Microsoft and Yahoo confirm 10-year search advertising deal

As reported widely having picked this up on the radio whilst putting the final touches to dinner, Microsoft and Yahoo have confirmed a 10-year global search advertising deal forecast to generate income of $500m (£305m) a year. Microsoft will handle the search technology, while Yahoo will provide the search-advertising sales force. Though such a proposition has been mooted for some time, getting the two parties to agree at the debating table has proved more difficult. The Guardian has a good account here and The Economist another here.