Microsoft, Yahoo Finally Strike Search Deal

Weekend meeting torpedoes hopes of a merger

(NEWSER) - Looks like a Microsoft-Yahoo marriage is off—for good this time, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a meeting last weekend, Microsoft representatives stated “unequivocally” that the software giant was not interested in purchasing all of Yahoo for any price. Yahoo then ruled out an alternative of selling Microsoft only its search business. More»

$25M search deals with Microsoft, Google push it barely into black

(NEWSER) - Twitter will be marginally profitable this year thanks to deals with Google and Microsoft that open up the social networking site’s streams to those companies’ search engines. The agreement with Google is worth about $15 million, while the Microsoft partnership should net Twitter around $10 million. The short message site is thought to have operating expenses between $20 million and $25 million. More»

(NEWSER) - Wondering what the Microsoft/Yahoo pact will mean for you, the tech-loving consumer? Probably not much, writes Todd Weiss for PC World. His reasons:

• “I tried Bing, I played with Bing, I experienced Bing, but Bing, you’re no Google search,” Weiss opines. Even with Yahoo’s help, and even with its interesting features, Bing isn’t going to change the habits of the Google-loving masses.

(NEWSER) - Yahoo is close to a deal that would make Microsoft's Bing its new search engine, reports Advertising Age. To Yahoo's dismay, the deal will likely involve revenue sharing, not a fat up-front paycheck. Negotiations, which have been heated over the amount of revenue each side gets from search ad clicks, are expected to wrap up this week. More»

Ballmer says company can be more flexible now in Google fight

(NEWSER) - CEO Steve Ballmer is spinning Microsoft’s failure to acquire Yahoo expertly, telling analysts today that, unburdened by the search giant, the company can be more frisky and adaptable in its fight with nemesis Google, the Wall Street Journal reports. Actions might speak louder than words, though: Microsoft announced yesterday it would give the leader of its online efforts the boot, and restructure. More»