Microsoft cuddles up to Facebook once more

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 2 Jun 2008 at 11:58

Microsoft has integrated a Facebook updates tab into its Windows Live Messenger service, in a further sign of the growing closeness between the two firms.

The service allows UK users to change their status, view photos and invite people to join them on Windows Live Messenger by clicking a newly-added tab in the messenger window.

The integration could be seen as a response to Facebook's own messaging service which was released last month. However, the two companies have grown closer ever since Microsoft purchased a 1.6% stake in Facebook for $240 million, valuing the social networking site at a $15 billion.

Since then, the companies have expanded their advertising deal and rumours have continued to circulate that Microsoft is considering acquiring the social networking site, especially after its $44 billion bid for Yahoo hit the rocks.

Last month, Microsoft bolstered its messaging service with a new video clips sharing service called Messenger TV, which allowed users to exchange messages while both watching clips from the MSN Video service.