Microsoft is planning to dramatically streamline its online operations, selling its display advertising business to AOL and elements of its map-generating technology to Uber as it strips out parts of its business that have been losing money in recent years.

The sales indicate that Microsoft plans to focus on its growing search advertising business, powered by its Bing search engine, and will display maps on its Windows devices, rather than generating them itself.

Employees in the display advertising business will be offered the chance to transfer to AOL, although Microsoft has said that it is not planning on making any layoffs, suggesting that any who remain may be absorbed into the search ad unit or other areas of the business.

As part of the 10 year deal, AOL, which was recently bought by Verizon, will sell display ads on MSN, Outlook.com, Xbox, Skype and a number of apps in certain countries. In return, Bing will become the search engine of choice on AOL from the start of next year.

Microsoft also extended its multi-year agreement with AppNexus, which provides the tech platform used to purchase ads within its ecosystem.

“Microsoft and AOL share a commitment to customer service and collaboration, and together we will create a powerhouse media offering with a remarkable set of differentiated assets,” said Rik van der Kooi, vice president of advertising and consumer monetisation at Microsoft. “Our advertising customers will have one consistent experience as we transition our sales and trade marketing employees in these nine markets to AOL.”

The details of the deal with Uber were not disclosed, but Uber will take over the part of Microsofts mapping unit that works on map data processing and imagery acquisition, with the 100 or so employees working in that area to be offered roles at Uber.

Uber was one of the names rumoured to be interested in acquiring Nokias Here mapping unit earlier this year, suggesting that the firm is looking to strengthen its logistics business with more accurate mapping in its core cities.