MicroSoft Gets a Chunk of Coal for Christmas, Google Extends AOL Partnership

Reuters reports that Google will renew its partnership with AOL and that MSN is out.

Time Warner Inc. is in exclusive talks with Web search leader Google Inc. about broadening a partnership with Time Warner's AOL online unit, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Microsoft Corp., once considered the front-runner for a deal with AOL, is -- at least for now -- out of the running.