News
Report: Microsoft in Talks to Buy Stake in AOL
- By Scott Bekker
- September 15, 2005
Microsoft is in talks with Time Warner about buying a stake in the media giant's AOL unit, according to reports in the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal Thursday.
The AOL component is part of a larger discussion about how Microsoft and Time Warner might work together, according to the Journal, which cited unnamed sources. Microsoft reportedly aims to get AOL to switch its search technology from Google to Microsoft's rival Internet search engine.
The talks were described as preliminary and included discussions of combining the AOL and MSN sales teams.
Spokesmen for Microsoft and Time Warner declined comment.
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.