Yahoo, Microsoft Executives Cooks Up a Deal, Meets Face to Face

Yahoo, Microsoft Executives Cooks Up a Deal, Meets Face to Face

Talks between Yahoo and Microsoft partnership have finally progressed, although the deal is still at its early stages. According to a report on the All Things Digital Web site, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz have met to hammer a search and advertisement partnership agreement.  
 

Ballmer has previously hinted he is considering a search deal. Microsoft has been pushing for this since Jerry Yang’s leadership, and now that Bartz has stepped up, the company is hoping to reach a favorable outcome with the ongoing talks. Microsoft appears to be in a more fortified position as it employs some of Yahoo’s high-profile execs. The firm has also ventured in projects advancing its query share and has started testing its sophisticated search product known as Kumo.

 

Microsoft is arranging a back-up plan for Kumo’s launch, promoting big ads to boost its share in the search market. On the other hand, Yahoo is faring well, doubling Microsoft’s share. However, the company may see a downhill trend resulting from failed toolbar deal with search leader Google.