/ Source: Reuters
Microsoft Corp. will announce plans to expand its relationship with online social network Facebook to provide web search and search advertising, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)
The expanded deal follows Microsoft's decision not pursue a takeover of Yahoo Inc. to bolster its online search and advertising business as it tries to compete with Internet leader Google Inc.
Microsoft bought a 1.6 percent stake in fast-growing Facebook for $240 million in October, beating out Google in the investment. At the time, it reached an exclusive deal to sell ads on Facebook outside of the United States.
