Online: Microsoft accelerates pursuit of Google with $486m Ciao buyout (Guardian Unlimited)

One of Europe’s most popular price comparison websites, Ciao, has been snapped up by Microsoft as the Seattle-based software empire seeks to challenge the online dominance of Google. Microsoft is paying $486m (£266m) for Ciao’s US-based parent company, Greenfield Online, which values Greenfield’s Nasdaq-listed shares at $17.50. The acquisition comes three months after Microsoft’s $47.5bn …