Microsoft has revealed that itssearch dealwith Yahoo could be expanded beyond the
US once it has been given the go-ahead.
The deal, under which Microsoft's Bing search engine will be
used for Yahoo searches and Yahoo will sell premium advertising for
both companies, is
still being finalised.
Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft, said that
it is possible the partnership will be extended overseas, according
to US
reports.
The deal was announced in July and was originally scheduled to
be completed by the end of October, but the two companies have
asked for more time to hammer out the details.
Observers have speculated that Microsoft and Yahoo are keen to
find just the right structure for the deal to ensure quick approval
by US competition authorities.
Regulators blocked Yahoo's proposed deal with Google, but the
deal with Microsoft joins two much smaller companies and was
initially expected to get relatively easy approval.
But anti-trust experts have warned that US regulators sometimes
oppose mergers between number two and three players.