Reports say deal would include guaranteed payments to Verzion Wireless of up to $650 million.
The Wall Street Journal says Microsoft is just a whisker away from becoming the exclusive mobile search provider to Verizon Wireless in the US, ousting incumbent Google.The article says Microsoft would share with Verizon revenue from search advertising, with guaranteed payments to the operator amounting to a staggering $550-$650 million over five years.
That's twice what Verizon earns from its current Google deal, according to estimates.
It's an awful lot of money and a sum that Microsoft will almost certainly write off in the knowledge that it's securing precious market share from its rival.
In fact, the sums involved between the two companies are even bigger, with a separate deal for Verizon to use the Windows Mobile OS said to be worth another $500 million.
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