And since Yahoo allowed Microsoft ‘s weekend deadline to pass the next move in this Mexican stand-off should come from Microsoft although analysts say that the options are not particularly appealing and some major investors are becoming restless with the lack of progress._

Furthermore, the consensus among most analysts is that Microsoft needs Yahoo more than Yahoo needs Microsoft, so that it can compete with an increasingly expansive Google._

So if Microsoft still wants to acquire Yahoo, it really only has three options left: to raise the price, to launch a hostile takeover bid, or to take a break in the hope Yahoo flounders._

However these options come with caveats: they are expensive and their outcome is uncertain._

So perhaps a friendly merger is the only option left on the cards for Microsoft.