The shopping season has already started, and according to the latest rumor, spread by The New York Post, Time Warner might sell AOL to the Redmond company.

New York Post cites two sources familiar to the transaction, without revealing any names though. Microsoft allegedly intends to combine AOL with MSN.

When it comes to the Internet services and the search engine, AOL is currently behind MSN, but the merger between the two services could become a powerful opponent for Yahoo and Google.

AOL is currently a profitable business, the company recording last year profits of $8.6 billion, but the client number has remained almost constant.

AOL owns one of the most popular IM services and rumors also talked about a VoIP service. Obviously none of Microsoft's, AOL's or Time Warner's officials have made any comments.

It would be ironic if Microsoft acquired AOL, the software company ending with Netscape, its old enemy, in the backyard.


This week, Softpedia takes you for an e-mail client tour. Vote for your favorite e-mail application.