Microsoft have placed a bidding for the Norwegian search company Fast. The amount is 6,6 billion NOK which is about 835 000 000 Euro!
Their plan is to integrate Fast technology into Sharepoint server: They want to keep the research team and says it should be a great effort for Microsoft in Europe.
The biggest competitors to Fast Search on search solutions for large cooperations is Googles Search Appliance, French Exalead as well as Autonomy.