Google . and Microsoft Corp. are both courting microblogging service Twitter because of its search ad revenue potential, according to a report Thursday.
A Wall Street Journal blog reported that many experts think Twitter’s instant 140-character format will be next big thing for search, which is dominated now by Google , Microsoft lagging behind.
Earlier this month media reports said Google was in talks to buy Twitter, with figure of $250 million to $1 billion bandied about.
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone downplayed but didn’t refute the rumors in a blog post later, writing "It should come as no surprise that Twitter engages in discussions with other companies regularly and on a variety of subjects," he said. "Our goal is to build a profitable, independent company and we’re just getting started"
A deal for Twitter has long been rumored. Potential suitors have included Palo Alto-based Facebook Inc., which was reported to have made a half-billion-dollar offer last year.