WebProNews

Microsoft, Yahoo May Extend Partnership Outside The U.S.

Microsoft's CEO isn't getting ahead of himself; for the time being, Steve Ballmer's taking a "first things first" approach.  However, he indicated today that if the proposed U.S.-only Microsoft-Yahoo search partnership goes through, an international agreement may follow.

Microsoft, Yahoo Miss Agreement Deadline

The proposed Microsoft-Yahoo deal seems to have hit a small and oddly unspecified bump.  The companies missed an October 27th deadline by which they hoped to have some details ironed out.

Carl Icahn Quits Yahoo's Board Of Directors

Another noteworthy event in the long, strange tale of the Microsoft-Yahoo deal has occurred: about 15 months after securing his seat on Yahoo's board of directors, Carl Icahn has resigned the position. It's important to note that the move isn't supposed to be interpreted as the first step in starting another fight.  Or even as a sign of disapproval.  In fact, in a letter announcing his resignation, Icahn made it sound more like a case of "mission accomplished" and "time to move on."

Advertising Powerhouses Champion Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

It would seem that everybody who's anybody in the advertising industry wants the Microsoft-Yahoo deal to go through.  Today, the president and CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, along with the heads of all four major ad holding companies, signed her name to a letter of support.

Yahoo "Might Be Open" To Letting Google On Homepage

The Yahoo search experience might at some point change in a very surprising way.  That Bing may take over, we've come to accept.  But at least one high-ranking Yahoo employee thinks Google could get a shot, too. Let's talk about said employee for a moment.  Burke Culligan is the senior director of product planning and strategy over Yahoo's front page and My Yahoo, so he's in a good position to discuss significant adjustments.  Also, Culligan's worked for Yahoo since October of 2005, so it's not like he's some newbie who doesn't know the score.

Justice Department Asks Microsoft, Yahoo For More Info

Even though the combined search market shares of Microsoft and Yahoo won't approach Google's stake in terms of size, the Justice Department isn't giving their proposed deal a free pass.  In fact, the government entity's decided to ask Microsoft and Yahoo for more information.

Analyst Predicts Big Gains For Yahoo Post-Microsoft Deal

Maybe Yahoo's deal with Microsoft was a smart move, after all.  RBC analyst Ross Sandler has stepped forward to say that it'll have a positive financial effect on Carol Bartz's company, boosting certain figures significantly above forecasted levels. 

Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Full Of Termination Clauses

Although Microsoft and Yahoo (finally) announced a partnership one week ago, it seems that the deal is far from unbreakable.  Indeed, Yahoo's shared a few details with the S.E.C., and there are a number of interesting termination provisions attached to the arrangement. The first can kick in if much more heel-dragging occurs, or more specifically, "if the conditions to commencement have not been satisfied by July 29, 2010."  Which is a nice sign that this won't still be under discussion come doomsday.

Microsoft, Yahoo CEOs Comment On Employees' Fates

Personnel-related "efficiencies" can be good or bad, depending on one's perspective.  Companies want to save money, of course, and their shareholders also appreciate savings.  But employees like to keep their jobs.  So let's take a look at what sort of effect the Microsoft-Yahoo deal may have.

Yahoo Having A Horrible Day On The Stock Market

According to a statement Carol Bartz issued this morning, the new Yahoo-Microsoft deal "comes with boatloads of value for Yahoo, our users, and the industry."  But a significant number of Yahoo's (former) investors apparently didn't believe that line, and have sent the company's stock into something of a tailspin.