Microsoft has bought UK online mapping firm, Multimap in the hope that it will expand Microsoft’s seach options.

Similar to Google mapping, Multimap offers online maps and attracts 10 million users each month, putting it in the top ten most visited websites in the UK.

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Sharon Baylay, bigwig at the Online Services Group at Microsoft, has said that the deal with the mapping company was "a huge opportunity to expand our platform business beyond the UK and globally"

Microsoft has yet to reveal how much was forked over in the deal with Multimap. We get the distinct feeling that might have something to do with the extortionate amount of money they paid for the miniscule stake in social networking site Facebook. . . But hey, who are we to judge ?

Another day, another acquisition for Microsoft.