Medio Systems Inc. to benefit deal between Google and Verizon

Telecom company Verizon Communications Inc. is nearing agreement with Google Inc. on a wide-ranging deal to boost internet searches by cell phone users, according a report in The Wall Street Journal.

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) considered other possible partners for the mobile search deal, including Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), of Redmond, Wash., the report said.

A Seattle startup, Medio Systems Inc., may benefit from a Verizon-Google tie-up. Medio Systems already handles digital content searches for Verizon and would manage an enhanced search service in the event of a Google deal, The Wall Street Journal said.

Verizon, of New York, and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), of Mountain View, Calif., are still negotiating key issues and the deal isn’t final yet, the report said.