Sunnyvale, Calif.
– Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) and Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) announced on Thursday that they have received antitrust
approval from both the U.S.
Justice Department and European Commission for their proposed search
partnership. The companies expect implementation of the deal to begin in coming
days, when Yahoo will transition its algorithmic and paid search platforms to
Microsoft.
Yahoo will become the exclusive relationship sales force for both
companies’ premium search advertisers globally.
"This breakthrough search
alliance means Yahoo can focus even more on our own innovative search
experience," said Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz.
"Yahoo gets to do what we do
best: combine our science and technology with compelling content to build
personally relevant online experiences for our users and customers."
The
companies said they hope to complete the transition, at least in the U.S., by the
end of 2010, while all global customers and partners are expected to be
transitioned by early 2012.
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They were ready to blast this off to all customers today.. this is a large merger here.
Google had estimated 66.1% market share.. with this merger giving yahoo+ms about 25% now.. this is a major issue..
I’m happy about this tho, Google is too powerful right now.. they are a very aggressive business who have shown ability to partner with government and buy competitors to shut them down…