Bebo and ICQ up for grabs

Reportedly, AOL is ousting both Bebo and ICQ from its properties, with talks initiated in early stages with the Russian online properties owner, Digital Sky Limited for an estimated $200-300 million for the possible acquisition of both, as contrasted to the USD 800 million AOL brought Bebo for.

DST recently acquired a 1.9% equity in Facebook and is the owner of the largest website in Russia, mail.ru.

Although both ICQ and Bebo have fallen from grace within the span of a year, lagging behind Facebook and Myspace, they have large followings in Germany - 12. 6 unique visitors a month and 8.4 uniques in Russia.

AOL is also, in its attempts to realign itself as a content firm , reportedly downsizing 1/3 of its workforce to achieve cost savings of USD 300 million and are reneging both Bebo and ICQ because they do not achieve the new focus.