Thursday, November 13, 2008

MS NEARS DEAL WITH VERIZON

The Hindu Business Line

Microsoft Corp is moving closer to an agreement with Verizon Wireless to become the default search provider on the wireless carrier's cellphones, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the discussions. Under the terms being considered, Microsoft would share with Verizon revenue from ads shown in response to cellphone Web searches, with guaranteed payments to the carrier of about $550 million to $650 million over five years, roughly twice what Google Inc offered, the people told the paper.

Separately, Microsoft is negotiating a deal to put its Windows Mobile software in more Verizon devices although it isn't clear if Microsoft is offering to pay Verizon to use Windows Mobile or would allow Verizon to use the software for free, the paper said. The combined value of the two deals could top $1 billion, the people told the paper.

0 comments: