Twitter in data-mining talks with Microsoft and Google - Rumour

Twitter may be poised to turn its large user base and high profile into revenues following reports that the micro-blogging platform is in separate talks with Google and Microsoft to license its torrent of real-time posts. 

Tech blog All Things Digital quotes sources close to the talks saying that Twitter is negotiating data-mining deals with both firms that could see tweets integrated into Google and Bing search results. Yahoo! might also gain access to Twitter’s stream through its search partnership with Microsoft. The blog says various payment options are under discussion, with both a multimillion dollar payout and revenue-sharing arrangements on the table. 

The sources insist neither deal is exclusive and that Twitter is striving to retain neutrality in the search battle between Google and Microsoft. They also warn that negotiations with both firms may come to nothing. Twitter, Google and Microsoft are all refusing to comment on the reports. 

A data-mining deal would go some way towards justifying Twitter’s recent USD1bn valuation. Commentators have been hailing search as key to expanding Twitter’s popularity and monetising its stream of 140-character posts. A deal with either Microsoft or Google would massively expand Twitter’s reach and provide data that could help the search engines’ enhance the relevance of their results.