Microsoft is considering acquiring Facebook in the wake of its failed bid to buy Yahoo.

Earlier this week, the software giant's lawyers approached the social network about the possibility of a total takeover, according to US media reports. Microsoft paid $240m (£115m) for a 1.6 per cent in the site last October.

Neither company is currently commenting.

Microsoft's interest in Yahoo appears to have waned following the collapse of its takeover bid. Last week the firm offered to buy the search giant to $47.5bn, up from the original $44.6bn bid made in February.

Yahoo declined that offer, bringing an end to talks between the two companies.

Meanwhile, Peter Chernin, president of News Corp, confirmed that his organisation was no longer involved in talks to acquire the search firm.

Elsewhere, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told a press conference in Tokyo that sales of its Vista operating system had been "rapid", saying the firm had shipped 140 million copies since launch. Microsoft said it was working on the next version of its operating system, code named "Windows 7".