Will Microsoft buy AOL?
p2pnet.net News:- Rumours that Microsoft is thinking about buying AOL are "silly and pointless" says Time Warner.
Bill and the Boyz have been talking to Time Warner about the possibility and the latter’s lawyers, "have begun analyzing any potential antitrust issues from such a deal, and to date their conclusion is that there would be few roadblocks to a Microsoft acquisition of AOL, according to sources familiar with the matter," says the New York post here.
But it also quotes Time Warner spokesman Ed Adler said "such speculation is silly and pointless".
A Microsoft spokesperson declined comment.
But those ubiquitous Post sources apparently say the deal being discussed would have Microsoft paying cash plus the assumption of debt to acquire AOL.
"A possible investment by Microsoft in Time Warner Cable has also been considered, sources say," says the Post, going on: "Microsoft previously invested $1 billion in Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, and owns about 7 percent of that company.
"Time Warner and Microsoft are already deep in discussions about ways to use Microsoft technology in Time Warner’s content businesses, and discussions about a deal for AOL emanated from those talks, sources say."
