New York: The Microsoft-Yahoo! deal for
Internet search business, has received the approval from both
the US and the European regulators.
The implementation of the deal, which would boost the
efforts of Microsoft to challenge rival Google, is expected to
start in the coming days, both companies said today.
Microsoft and Yahoo! in a joint statement said they have
received clearance for their search agreement, without
restrictions, from both the US Department of Justice and the
European Commission.
As part of the alliance, Microsoft would provide Yahoo!
with the same search result listings available through its
search engine Bing, while Yahoo! would innovate around those
listings.
Going by the deal, which was announced in July last year,
Yahoo!'s algorithmic and paid search platforms would be
transitioned to Microsoft.
Further, Yahoo! would become the becoming the exclusive
relationship sales force for both companies' premium search
advertisers globally.
The deal would also provide better monetisation
opportunities for web publishers through a platform that
contains a larger pool of search queries, the statement noted.
"I believe that together, Microsoft and Yahoo! will
promote more choice, better value and greater innovation to
our customers as well as to advertisers and publishers,"
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 19, 2010, 09:00