*Ø* Blogmanac | Microsoft Made Advances Toward Google

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Microsoft Corp., seeking a foothold in the Internet search business, approached Google within the last two months to discuss a partnership or even a merger, The New York Times said on Friday.

"Microsoft may still be interested in pursuing the Web search company at a later date, the report said, citing an executive briefed on the discussion, though its recent advances gained little traction."

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