Microsoft looks favourite to take a slice of AOL, according to a report by The New York Times.

Last week, Time Warner confirmed that it was holding "exploratory" talks with a number of operators over the future of its AOL internet division.

Chief exec Dick Parsons admitted that the internet giant was "holding exploratory discussions with a number of strategic partners" concerning a "range of potential strategic relationships and transactions".

A number of companies - including Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and cableco Comcast - have all been linked to a possible deal that could see the creation of a joint venture operation or some kind of merger.

Now the NYT reports that Microsoft has "emerged as the front-runner" although there's still a chance that this nag could fall anywhere between now and the finishing line.

Neither should anyone rule out a late charge by one of the others since any deal is still likely to be some way off. ®

Related stories

• Dell tools up with Google (8 February 2006)
• Google and AOL cement ad love (21 December 2005)
• AOL / Google deal 'a disastrous decision' (20 December 2005)
• Google snatches AOL from MS (17 December 2005)
• Google makes US brand top three (7 December 2005)
• Future of AOL to be decided soon (6 December 2005)
• Yahoo! pulls! out! of! race! for! AOL! (11 November 2005)
• 'Exploratory' talks on AOL future, says TW (3 November 2005)
• AOL founder finally prised out of Time Warner (1 November 2005)
• AOL IM worm roots around Windows PCs (31 October 2005)
• AOL erases 700 workers (20 October 2005)
• In brief Yahoo! latest to court AOL (17 October 2005)
• Google, Comcast court AOL (13 October 2005)
• Microsoft and Yahoo! 'to merge IM chat' (12 October 2005)
• AOL and MSN 'chatting again' (7 October 2005)
• AOL confirms Weblogs Inc buyout (6 October 2005)