Though many bloggers are calling it just a far out story, the New York Post has reported that Time Warner is in talks with Microsoft for a business deal that would combine America Online with MSN. According to the Post, talks between the two to form a new business venture that would have Time Warner and Microsoft equal partners began two years ago. If consummated, the process would combine the two largest dial up Internet service providers.It has been reported many times that Time Warner would love to rid itself of AOL. The move for a partnership with Microsoft would not only shed Time Warner of the dial up company, it would also help Time Warner's shares, which have taken a beating in recent times.Experts note that a merger between MSN and AOL makes sense since both products rely on e-mail and Instant Messaging for their revenues. But speculation also centers upon the companies' efforts to compete with Google and Yahoo.The Wall Street Journal has indicated that AOL is Google's largest partner, accounting for 12 percent ($380 million) of Google's revenues in 2004. Therefore, depending on the limitations of the AOL-Google contract, such a switch by AOL could put a significant dent in Google's revenues.Merrill Lynch analyst Lauren Rich Fine noted that such deal between AOL and MSN could pose serious competition for Yahoo as well as Google in terms of audience reach and comprehensiveness of content. In response to Fine's thoughts, speculation has now developed that either Google and Yahoo could put up an offer for AOL or that Time Warner will turn to one of them if the deal with Microsoft falls through.