Microsoft and Yahoo in search deal

Yahoo and Microsoft have formed a search partnership which the companies say will ensure the Bing search engine becomes more relevant and useful. Microsoft will acquire an exclusive 10-year licence to Yahoo's search technologies and integrate them into its existing web search tools. Under the partnership, Microsofts Bing will be the exclusive algorithmic search and paid search platform for Yahoo sites. Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer said the agreement will provide the Bing search engine with the scale necessary to more effectively compete with Google. "We took a major step forward two months with the announcement of our new search platform Bing," said Ballmer. "Already Bing has generated huge buzz and great reviews. This deal creates the resources and scale to compete effectively in search and drive innovation." The companies have unveiled a website to provide information about the Microsoft and Yahoo search partnership, which is subject to regulatory review.