Update: The deal is confirmed. Microsoft will be paying $240 million for a 1.6% stake in the company, confirming its thin-air analyst valuation of $15 billion. Nice — someone will be partying hard tonight.
The latest news in the world of Facebook is that the much speculated alliance between facebook and Microsoft is seemingly all go.
Sources close to the deal are not sure of precise details, however, the agreement is expected to include at least an ownership stake for Microsoft in the fast moving social network. This is a clear win for Microsoft over Google, who were also believed to have been bidding hard for a partnership with facebook.
Having lost on previous social network investment opportunities such as myspace, Microsoft will be pleased to make some solid progress in this important online space. And for Facebook, the suggested enormity of the investment that will be made by Microsoft will allow Zuckerberg and his team to move Facebook up to the next level.
