The delightfully understated Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer said he was still  interested in cutting a search business partnership with Yahoo.

While Microsoft walked away from negotiations with Yahoo chief executive Jerry Yang last year, the appointment of a new CEO  Carol Bartz has lead many to wonder if the deal could be  on again.

Ballmer said that there are advantages for advertisers and consumers, for Microsoft and for Yahoo through a search partnership, and we'd like to do one. Google dominates online search with more than 60 per cent of the market. Yahoo has around 20 percent while Microsoft is a distant third with under 10 per cent. 

It is believed that if a deal could get off the drawing board, Google could be given a run for its money.