US and EU approve Microsoft-Yahoo mega search deal

The US and EU have approved a mega search deal – without restrictions – between Microsoft and Yahoo.

Under terms of the agreement (announced in July 2009), Microsoft will provide Yahoo with search results generated by its Bing engine. Meanwhile, Yahoo is expected to “innovate around the results” by integrating rich content with organized information about key topics.

“Yahoo will focus on providing a compelling and innovative search experience that allows people to find and explore the things, people and sites that matter most to them,” Microsoft confirmed in a statement.

“[Although we] will provide the underlying platform, both companies will continue to create different, compelling and evolving experiences, competing for audience, engagement and clicks.”

According to Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, implementation of the deal is expected to begin in the coming days and will involve transitioning Yahoo’s algorithmic and paid search platforms to the Redmond-based company.

“This breakthrough search alliance means Yahoo can focus even more on our own innovative search experience,” explained 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.”