Microsoft still seeking SNS deal
Microsoft is still seeking a deal to give it access to valuable social networking site (SNS) users.
The computing giant had its offer for Yahoo! rejected and is understood to now have approached Facebook, the Times has reported.
The paper said it believed Bill Gates’ company made an offer to establish if Mark Zuckerberg was interested in selling the site – his reaction to the bid remains unknown.
"Social media is a growing and varied culture," noted Nielsen Online’s internet analyst, Mark Burmaster.
The rating firm revealed Facebook had a UK audience of more than 8.5 million unique users in January this year, MySpace (five million) and Bebo (four million).
Microsoft hoped to target Yahoo!’s millions of users as part of its search for increased advertising revenue.
Marketers are hoping to monetise niche networks within these sites, although they are yet to confirm a successful business model.
