Microsoft-Yahoo! search deal approved

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 Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said.