Microsoft and Yahoo Talking Again? Kind of…

Image: Microsoft and Yahoo logo mix

I just saw a post from Inquisitr saying the discussions between Microsoft and Yahoo may be back on again.

The Inquisitr article linked to this story in the TimeOnline website that discussed the details of the discussions being presented from the two parties.

The external investors would also have the right to appoint three of Yahoo’s 11 board directors. The talks with Yahoo involve Microsoft obtaining a 10-year operating agreement to manage the search business. It would also receive a two-year call option to buy the search business for $20 billion. That would leave Yahoo to run its own e-mail, messaging, and content services.

I continue to think the Microsoft and Yahoo merger would be good for both companies. I’ve mentioned my opinion on whether or not it should happen a few different times on the site.

• Is Yahoo Regretting Saying No to Microsoft
• Microsoft Interested in a New Yahoo Board
• Google and Yahoo Announcing Partnership
• All Not Happy In Yahoo-Land

This new development puts a new twist on the previous discussions. Microsoft stating that they’re specifically and perhaps only interested in the Yahoo search business. This does go against my thoughts to the benefits of this merger going through. I think there’s plenty of other valuable assets that Microsoft should be interested in of Yahoo’s.