US software giant Microsoft Corp has forged a ‘strategic partnership’ to digitise 25 mln pages of content from the British Library in London, the Financial Times reported, citing Microsoft managing director Alistair Baker.

Microsoft is to invest 2.5 mln usd in the venture next year as ‘an initial investment’ in a long-term project that will kick off with the initial scanning of 10,000 books.

‘This deal will add to the level of content and value of the MSN portal,’ Baker was quoted as saying.

The FT said the deal would be seen as a bid by Microsoft to make up lost ground in its rivalry with Google Inc, which yesterday unveiled its first digital book collection.

I think this paragraph says it all.