Google and Comcast in talks to invest in AOL

[mandy]

Web search engine Google and cable company Comcast are in discussions to buy a stake in Time Warner's America Online, two sources said, in a deal reportedly worth as much as $5 billion

An investment would set the stage for an alliance marrying Time Warner's trove of programming and Google's popular search and e-mail services with Comcast's high-speed Internet portal and experience in cable video distribution and telecommunications

Google and Comcast face competition from Microsoft, which is also holding talks with AOL

full article: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/NewsArti...ternetNews&storyID=2005-10-13T075346Z_01_HAR271938_RTRIDST_0_OUKIN-UK-MEDIA-AOL.XML

related topic: http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...425.0.html

[mandy]

Yahoo Inc. is considering buying a stake in America Online Inc., joining other Internet powerhouses interested in the company's Web portal, a person close to the talks said Friday.

The discussions were described as preliminary and not as advanced as separate talks AOL parent Time Warner Inc. has had with Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc., which is considering a joint bid with Comcast Corp.

full article: http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/s...Technology

[Kristijntje]

Google shares have hit record highs on reports it could take a stake in Time Warner's internet unit, AOL.

Under the deal, Google would pay $1bn (£565m) for a 5% stake in AOL, the Wall Street Journal website has reported. The two firms have declined to comment.

Any deal between the two sides would freeze out Microsoft, once considered the front-runner for a deal with AOL.

full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4536528.stm

[mandy]

More info on the Google/AOL deal:

Under the terms of the deal, AOL becomes Google's closest advertising partner, with the ability to sell ads on Google's behalf directly to advertisers. Those ads could appear in search results on AOL's Web site or on other sites that carry Google ads...

The partnership could also herald a new experience for people who use Google's search engine, because it allows AOL to place advertising with images on Google's search results pages. Until now, Google's search engine has been devoid of any image ads.

full article: http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/silicon...426237.htm