With Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)'s acquisition of video-sharing web phenom YouTube last year, the Internet search giant staked its claim to the online video realm. Like Orkut and Blogger.com before it, Google's handiness in social media needed to turn to video, and Google Video was not cutting it (nor was it designed to). YouTube, over time, will become an advertising-supported video site that will host user-generated content alongside studio-created content -- that is, if the studios would embrace changing times instead of being stubborn stalwarts like they always seem to be.

But, in usual fashion, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) may be looking to enter the "me too" party with a possible video website acquisition, as the world's largest software company seems to be in a perpetual state of "following the leader" in many areas, with Google out-innovating the software titan at many turns (not all, though).

With Microsoft's Soapbox now in the fray along with YouTube, is Microsoft eying an acquisition already? Rumor has it that Revver has caught the eye of Microsoft, and the company many be looking to acquire that property and inherit a built-in user base. It's much easier to buy customers these days than to build and grow organically (like Google did with YouTube), as a meeting between the two companies has been confirmed. Problem is -- both companies are being mum on all details. That generally means something is afoot. If it does happen, will Revver prop up Microsoft's online video ambitions. Can it?

[Disclosure: I own MSFT products as of 2-23-07]