Rumor surfacing that AOL is shunning Microsoft and instead deciding to stay put with Google as its search partner.

Time Warner Inc. has entered exclusive talks with Google Inc. over a partnership with AOL, apparently shutting out Microsoft Corp. and other suitors, according to people familiar with the situation.

Update: Not only a partnership, but Google is set to buy a 5% stake in AOL for $1 billion. One step closer to GoogAOL.

BusinessWeek looks at pending law reform that could give telephone and cable companies a lot of control over internet sites such as Google, Yahoo, Amazon, eBay and more.

That prospect is the worst nightmare of Internet stars such as Google (GOOG) , Amazon (AMZN), and eBay (EBAY). They’re gearing up for a clash with the phone and cable giants early next year as Congress begins to redraft the telecom laws for the broadband era. The Internet gang fears that unless they get lawmakers to intervene, the network operators will soon be able to put a chokehold on the Web. “The issue is about the future of the Internet,” says Alan Davidson, Google’s Washington policy counsel.

How bad could it get?

Google is now offering Gmail for your cell phone.

From the website…

Gmail Mobile lets you access your Gmail account from your mobile phone. Just enter http://m.gmail.com in your phone’s web browser to log in to your account.

Gmail Mobile offers a number of cool features:

* The interface is automatically optimized for the phone you’re using
* You can access attachments, including photos, Microsoft Word documents, and .pdf files
* If you enter phone numbers in your Gmail Contacts list, you can reply to messages by call
G
oogle doesn’t charge you to access your Gmail account from a mobile phone, but depending on your service plan, you may be charged by your wireless provider. Check with your provider for more information about fees associated with accessing the Internet from your mobile phone.

Anyone see an uneasy similarity between Google’s thoughts on its Google Space project at London’s Heathrow airport and lab mice in a maze?

Next time you’re at the airport, scan the waiting area and see what people are doing. You’ll be shocked by the number who are doing absolutely nothing — other than staring glassy-eyed at other people who are doing absolutely nothing. Naturally, these people had rushed in a mad frenzy an hour prior in order to get to the airport on time, only to sit and stare.

This observation is what spawned Google Space. We thought it would be useful to set up an area to give travellers unfettered Internet access so they might make use of that otherwise wasted time. Plus Googlers would get to talk to Google users, and hear what they like and don’t like about our products. Kind of like Google Labs, but with face to face feedback. Google Labs goes material.

Washington Post writer and author of The Google Story, David Vise, was online earlier today to answer a whole host of Google questions – including one from an “Andy of Raleigh, NC”

If you’ve not already picked up David’s excellent book, you should go get it now. Pick up Battelle’s fantastic offering too and you’ll learn all there is to know about Google.

Yahoo has appointed Dr. Ron Brachman as vice president of worldwide research operations and opened a research office in NYC.

Brachman, who joins Yahoo! from DARPA and AT&T Labs, will be based at Yahoo!’s newly-opened research center in New York City. The center will focus on key technologies in the areas of computer science and social media relevant to Yahoo!’s products and services.

Brachman has had a distinguished career as a scientist and senior executive, marked by many significant accomplishments and honors. His expertise and experience will play a crucial role in expanding Yahoo! Research globally. Prior to joining Yahoo!, Brachman served as the director of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Information Processing Technology Office (IPTO), and there developed IPTO’s Cognitive Systems initiative, which brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the national research community. Prior to his term at DARPA, Brachman was a Research Vice President at AT&T Labs where he developed a world-class artificial intelligence group. He recently completed a two-year term as President of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and is a Fellow of AAAI and of the Association for Computing Machinery.

Reuters has details of a new “one box” feature for music. Simply search for the name of your favorite artist and you’ll find a suggested album, artwork and description. Plus…

A link to “more” music results leads to user reviews, song titles and a choice of online retailers where the music can be purchased.

So is Google getting any revenue-share from the new feature?

While the music search feature holds out the possibility of Google taking a cut of any music sale resulting from directing the user to an online music store, a spokeswoman said there was no plans to charge anyone for the service.