The two companies had partnered in the past (via a content-sharing deal for MSN Travel), and
Microsoft's spokesperson said that the plans are to "incorporate and apply" Farecast's price forecasting technology in "new and interesting ways."
Cook reports that the software giant wasn't the only interested bidder, particularly in light of the recent Sidestep acquisition by Kayak. "That deal led to new opportunities for Farecast, including discussions with Microsoft which heated up in the past 90 days," he says.