Microsoft Corp. forged a deal with Verizon Wireless to provide Web browsing services to mobile-phone users, beating out search leader Google Inc.

Verizon Wireless, which expects to surpass AT&T Inc. this week as the largest U.S. wireless provider, had sought a search partner to boost subscribers’ data use. Microsoft had one-seventh the Internet search traffic of Google in November, according to Nielsen Co. Microsoft is paying to cement this deal to try to narrow that gap.