14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Yahoo have just announced an extension to their original agreement signed in 2009 that made Bing the search provider of Yahoo’s services.
The two companies, however, also unveiled a series of amends that would be made as part of the renewed agreement, including what Yahoo called “increased flexibility to enhance the search experience on any platform.”
In a statement released today, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella and Yahoo’s CEO Marissa Mayer have explained that both companies have been very interested in continuing their collaboration, so this new extension does nothing more than expand a partnership that has already proved to be very successful.
“Our global partnership with Yahoo has benefited our shared customers over the past five years and I look forward to building on what we’ve already accomplished together,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft Corp. “Our partnership with Yahoo is one example of the diverse partnerships we’ll continue to cultivate in order to have the greatest impact for our customers.”
Several changes to the collaboration
First and foremost, Yahoo is looking to improve its search services beyond the desktop and mobile, but any other details have not been provided. Yet, the company says that Bing ads and search results powered by Microsoft will continue to be provided to desktop users.
Secondly, the advertising deal between the two companies would also be revamped by putting Microsoft in charge of ads delivered by the Bing Ads platform and Yahoo of Gemini Ads.
In the press release rolled out today, the two say this should lead to improved services for advertisers, with the new transition to separate ad plans to start this summer.
“Over the past few months, Satya and I have worked closely together to establish a revised search agreement that allows us to enhance our user experience and innovate more in our search business,” Marissa Mayer points out.
Yahoo and Microsoft are two long-term partners, as the original deal was signed in 2009 by CEOs that are no longer working for any of the two companies, so both Satya Nadella and Marissa Mayer are planning to continue the agreement for as long as possible.