WebProNews

Guess what? Microsoft might actually get a search deal done without Google getting up in its grill. According to reports, Microsoft is close to signing a search deal with Verizon Wireless–making Live Search the default search engine.

Under the proposal, Microsoft and Verizon would share ad revenue generated by cell-phone Web searches, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the talks. The Journal is a sister publication of MarketWatch.

Verizon would also be guaranteed payments of about $550 million to $650 million over five years - about twice what rival Google offered. In addition, Verizon could agree to use Microsoft’s mobile operating system in more of its phones, generating additional payments.

Verizon is apparently still in talks with Google, which, if history repeats itself, suggest there’s a possibility Google would make a higher bid, just to block Microsoft.

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