Microsoft could buy DoubleClick

THE EXTREMELY shy and retiring softly spoken CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer is thinking of buying the Internet advertising outfit DoubleClick.

According to the Wall Street Journal DoubleClick hired Morgan Stanley to explore its options, including a possible stock-market listing.

Owners of the company, Hellman and Friedman would not want change out of $2 billion for the sale. It paid $1.1 billion in 2005.

However the sale would give Vole something to chuck back at Google. DoubleClick works with advertisers to create online campaigns, such as streaming video clips.

Vole might also be interested in DoubleClick's Dart technology to steer advertisers away from Google and Yahoo.

More here.