All Things Digital reports that Yahoo and Microsoft are talking once again — not about an acquisition, but about possible search and advertising partnership opportunities.

The report says talks have been going on for “several weeks” and included a face-to-face meeting last week with new Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. All Things D describes the talks as “preliminary and wide-ranging.”

The companies have been talking for years (as far back as 2006, if not earlier) about working together, and early last year Microsoft made an unsolicited bid to buy Yahoo. Bartz and Ballmer first spoke shortly after she took over at Yahoo. Ballmer has continued to express his interest in Yahoo, but Bartz has said she’s not focusing on Microsoft.

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Microsoft: Business Issues | Yahoo: Business Issues

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