Microsoft beat Google to the punch. It announced today that it has officially invested in Facebook. Microsoft will take a $240 million equity stake in Facebook's next round of financing. The terms include making Microsoft the exclusive third-party advertising platform partner for Facebook, and will begin to sell advertising for Facebook internationally. Google was also widely reported to be courting Facebook, so chalk one up for the Microsofties.
At stake is not just advertising revenue ... though that could be plentiful ... but also a new form of potentially disruptive advertising that Facebook calls "SocialAds" a term it trademarked earlier this year.
See also: Google and Microsoft slobbering over Facebook
Julie Bort is the editor of Microsoft Subnet and Network World's Online Community Editor. She also writes the Open Source Subnet blog and is the editor responsible for the Cisco Subnet and Open Source Subnet web sites. If you have an idea for a blog, or a news tip on Microsoft, Cisco or Open Source technologies, contact her at jbort@nww.com, 970-482-6454 or follow Julie on Twitter @Julie188.
The Microsoft Subnet blog is the official blog of the Network World's Microsoft Subnet community. Microsoft Subnet is the independent voice of Microsoft customers and is your gateway to daily Microsoft news, blogs, opinion, books, prize giveaways and more. Visit the Microsoft Subnet index page daily, and while you are there, subscribe to the Microsoft newsletter.
Policy on comments: Respectful discussion is welcomed! However comments that use inappropriate language, consist of name calling or personal attacks, or include accusations of wrongdoing are not appropriate. Those comments will be deleted or edited