Verizon, the communications giant, buys AOL

Verizon will have access to AOL's advanced advertising technology and will incorporate companies such as The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Engadget, Makers and AOL.com into its structure.

The telecommunications operator Verizon will buy AOL for about $4.4 billion, in an operation aimed at strengthening its presence in the mobile device and streaming markets.

The acquisition will grant Verizon an entry into the increasingly competitive field of streaming, online video transmission. The New York-based company is the largest wireless operator in the United States, as well as a television and Internet provider. Wireless video transmission and targeted advertising are considered the next battleground for attracting customers.

AOL's experience in unifying advertising in different formats such as video, mobile devices and television and the connection that is now being opened with the entry of Verizon could mean massive screen reach with much richer audience data.

Verizon said last month that it was preparing to launch a video service for mobile devices that would be ready by mid-year. It recently began offering various cable TV services instead of a single package, as it traditionally did.

Verizon will have access to AOL's advanced advertising technology and will incorporate companies such as The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Engadget, Makers and AOL.com into its structure.