Google interested in DoubleClick purchase - WSJ

NEW YORK, April 2 (Reuters) - Google Inc. (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has emerged along with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as a contender to buy DoubleClick Inc., presenting competition that stands to increase the final sale price of the online-advertising company, people familiar with the situation said in The Wall Street Journal.

Microsoft has appeared less likely to win the bidding as the potential price for the company surpassed $2 billion, people familiar with the situation said in the Journal, but it is possible that Microsoft will counter.

Yahoo Inc. (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) AOL online unit also have talked to DoubleClick -- which is majority-owned by San Francisco private-equity firm Hellman & Friedman -- though it is unclear whether AOL is still in the race, these people said in the Journal.