As reported by The Register.

Pleased with its test of Google’s ad engine, Yahoo! is considering a more extensive partnership with its search rival/large weapon against Microsoft.

Citing “people familiar with the matter,” The Wall Street Journal reports that Yahoo! has “moved closer to outsourcing its search advertising to Google.” According to the these sources, both companies are pleased with Yahoo! test of Google’s AdSense for Search service, which has seen Google-brokered ads posted alongside Yahoo! search results.

Of course, this is just another attempt to fend off Microsoft’s ongoing Yahoo! takeover bid. On February 1, Microsoft bid $44.6bn for the world’s second largest search engine, and the Redmond software giant is now threatening a proxy fight if Jerry Yang and company don’t succumb.

When Yahoo! announced its Google ad test, Microsoft said that any “definitive agreement” between Yahoo! and Google “would make the market far less competitive.” And there’s little doubt that such a pact would face scrunity from regulators.

But sources tell The Journal that Yahoo! and Google are looking for ways to appease regulators. This could include limiting their partnership to certain search queries or geographical regions.

[via The Register]

Posted by Hazel Mary, Software Engineer at Google

Have you ever wanted to check if your buddy responded to your scrap about this evening’s plans, but not been close to a computer? Do you wish you could pass the time on your long commute home by browsing through your friends’ profiles?

Fret no more — if you have a web-enabled phone and a data plan, just point your mobile web browser to m.orkut.com, and stay connected to your friends anytime, anywhere.

We understand that often your phone’s data network isn’t as fast as your computer’s, so in designing orkut for mobile we focused on offering the features that are most useful when you’re on the move, instead of replicating all the desktop features. For example, we’ve made it easy to send, receive, and respond to scraps on our mobile interface so that you can step away from your computer and have conversations on the go. From your phone, simply click the new “Reply” link to respond directly to a scrap from your friend. You can also read recent updates from your friends, view upcoming birthdays, look up and add friends, and accept friend requests.

After you try out orkut for mobile, we’d love to hear what you think. From the m.orkut.com homepage, click on the “help” link at the bottom of the screen to send us your feedback.

Happy mobile orkuting!

[via Official Google Mobile Blog]