Yet Microsoft's recent overture has left no doubt that it, too, intends to expand its position.

Motorola said it had expanded its market-leading position in China during the quarter.

And he is losing little time in expanding his position.

Despite this turn of events, Sharaf al-Dawla was able to expand his position.

With a small number of Dailamite troops to support him, 'Ali sought to expand his position.

He expanded Barclays' international position, increasing the number of countries in which Barclays operated to 80 from 35.

Akzo said it would use the plant as a foothold from which to expand its position in the North American industrial-fibers market.

EMC also expanded its market-leading position during the quarter.

The question was, how did he expand his own position in the meantime?

The deal further expands the German telephone company's position in Central Europe.