Google in talks to buy Twitter?

Internet search giant Google may be looking to buy Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service provider, says a report.

The report on the website Tech Crunch, quoting a source said, "The acquisition discussions are still at fairly early stage."

"...The two companies (Google and Twitter) are also considering working together on a Google real time search engine... The discussions between the companies are confirmed," the website noted.

Twitter offers micro-blogging which allows users to send short text messages, among others, on various multimedia platforms.

The report said if the deal would happen, Google would be paying in cash and/or publicly valued stock.

Citing two separate people close to the negotiations TechCrunch said, "...We don’t know the price but can assume its well, well north of the $250 million valuation that they saw in their recent funding."

A few months ago, Twitter had turned down a buyout offer from Facebook.

Tech Crunch is a "weblog dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies", according to its website.