AOL buys TechCrunch

AOL Inc, the Internet company spun off from Time Warner, has agreed to buy technology blog TechCrunch -- one of the most influential blogs in Silicon Valley.

TechCrunch blogs will become part of the AOL Technology Network "while retaining their editorial independence," AOL said in a statement yesterday. The company didn't disclose the terms of the sale.

AOL has been acquiring businesses that will help it add news and other content to lure users and advertisers, while fending off competition from rivals such as Yahoo! and Facebook.