Microsoft is in discussions with Time Warner over how to combine Microsoft and AOL's online groups, The Wall Street Journal has claimed.
A Thursday article in the newspaper in the US claimed there had been a meeting between the two companies in Seattle on Wednesday in the US. According to the newspaper's sources, Microsoft and Time Warner have been in "casual talks" for several months.
The talks were linked to Microsoft's abortive attempts to buy Yahoo's search business, according to the newspaper. The article noted Microsoft's need to expand its reach on the Web, which is being stymied by the lack of large Web companies that are available to buy.
Yahoo itself is also reportedly in talks with AOL. Microsoft declined to comment on the rumours.
