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: Microsoft: Business Issues | Yahoo: Business Issues

About The Author: Matt McGee is Search Engine Land's Executive News Editor, responsible for overseeing our daily news coverage. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. His web career continues to include a small number of SEO and social media consulting clients, as well as regular speaking engagements at marketing events around the U.S. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee and/or on Google Plus. See more articles by Matt McGee