Facebook Deal Underscores Microsoft's Google Envy
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For Google, buying a piece of Facebook would have been, well, nice. But for Microsoft, sealing the deal was an absolute necessity.
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Microsoft Corp  beat out Google  Inc  on Wednesday in a battle to invest in socializing  Web site Facebook, agreeing to pay $240 million for a 1.6  percent stake in the Web phenomenon.
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(InfoWorld) - Microsoft has approached FacebookÂ in recent weeks proposing an investment that would give Microsoft a stake of up to 5 percent in the popular social-networking company, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. With Microsoft willing to invest between $300 million and $500 million, the deal would value Facebook at $10 billion or more, the Journal reported, quoting anonymous sources. Google has also expressed an interest in acquiring a Facebook stake recently, according to the Journal. Thus, Microsoft could find itself competing for Facebook's attention with Google. However, Facebook's discussions with Google and Microsoft are in the early stages and could end up with no agreement with either suitor, according to the Journal. IDG News Service's requests for comment from Facebook, Microsoft, and Google weren't immediately answered. Founded in February 2004, Facebook is one of the world's most popular social-networking sites with about 42 million active users. Facebook has been growing strongly in the past 12 months. In December, it had about 12 million active users. The site initially only admitted students, but last September it lifted that restriction. In May of this year, itÂ opened up to third-party developersÂ to create applications for the site, which has also added to its popularity with users. Along the way, it has caught the attention of big Internet playersÂ such asÂ Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo. The latter reportedly tried to buy Facebook last year for $1 billion. Facebook's attractiveness is that it builds very strong and deep relationships with its users.Â More thanÂ half of its active members return to the site daily, and Facebook knows a lot about them, thanks to all the personal information people disclose on their site profiles and interactions with other members. This, in turn, offers a desirable audience to advertisers and to ad sellers and distributorsÂ such asÂ Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. A little more than a year ago,Â Facebook chose Microsoft to display banner adsÂ on the site. Facebook would be interested in using the cash raised from selling a stake for buying other companies, increasing its staff of about 300, and beefing up its technical infrastructure, the Journal reported. Facebook is also weighing the option of raising funds from financial investors, the Journal said.
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In the wake of Microsoft's pricey investment, analysts are remarkably sunny about the future of Facebook's new advertising initiative--even though it hasn't even launched or been fully explained yet.
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Company joins heavyweights Google, MSN, and others in desktop search fray.
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Social networking site, Facebook, believed to be in negotiations with Microsoft.
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It's hard to determine what's more surprising about Microsoft Corp.'s investment in Facebook Inc.  -  the appraisal that valued a 3 1/2-year-old Internet hangout at $15 billion or the rare snub of online search leader Google Inc
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Gets international advertising rights It was the worst-kept secret in the internet industry, but today Microsoft proved all the rumor-mongers right by confirming that it is taking a stake in Facebook, and shutting Google out of the social networking website.â¦
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No, Facebook isn't a $15 billion company. Yes, Microsoft is smart.
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There&#39;s been a lot of gossip about the upcoming Google browser and its possible impact on Microsoft. It&#39;s hard to predict what will happen, but it won&#39;t surprise me if an all-out war between Google and Microsoft ensues.
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Why does Microsoft think Facebook is worth $15bn? Here are 15 possible reasons....
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Google Inc. is setting up a distribution network for social networking applications, adding a new twist in the Internet search leader's brewing rivalry with rapidly maturing startup Facebook Inc.
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The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft may take a stake of up to $500 million in social network, which could push valuation toward the $10 billion mark.
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Microsoft is in talks to buy a stake in the social networking site Facebook, the Wall Street Journal says.
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Software giant locks up ads on the social networking site, takes equity stake and makes Mark Zuckerberg a happy dude.
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InfoWorld - Microsoft has approached Facebook&#160;in recent weeks proposing an investment that would give Microsoft a stake of up to 5 percent in the popular social-networking company, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
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Facebook will sell a $240 million minority stake to Microsoft, which as part of the deal will also expand the advertising services it provides to the social networking phenom, the companies said Wednesday in a statement.