Microsoft-Yahoo: The story so far

The Microsoft-Yahoo soap opera has entered a new phase. And in the latest episode, special guest Google has entered the scene.

Yahoo has done a deal with Google to run Google ads alongside Yahoo search results in North America. This is a non-exclusive deal which Yahoo could repeat with other ad providers if it wanted.

The deal with Microsoft's biggest rival looks like a deliberate snub. On Thursday, Microsoft said it wouldn't buy all of Yahoo, but it might just be interested in buying a part, such as the search business.

Yahoo immediately dismissed this idea as out of the question and pronounced all talks with Microsoft over.

Remember this all dates back to January 2008 when Microsoft offered to pay $40 a share for Yahoo. The Yahoo board rejected the offer and the companies have been in on-off negotiations ever since.

Meanwhile, shareholder activist and billionaire investor Carl Icahn has been lobbying for Yahoo chief executive Jerry Yang and the Yahoo board to quit and for other shareholders to embrace the deal with Microsoft.

What Icahn's next scene will be is anybody's guess.

Here's the story so far …

• Microsoft offers $44bn for Yahoo
• Yahoo to take hard look at Microsoft bid
• Analysts react to Microsoft/Yahoo deal
• Google hits back at Yahoo/Microsoft deal
• Yahoo considers Microsoft offer
• Yahoo reconsiders merger with AOL
• Microsoft stands behind Yahoo bid
• Yahoo turns down Microsoft offer
• Yahoo search exec jumps ship
• Yahoo board split over Microsoft bid
• Microsoft seeks to replace Yahoo board
• Microsoft piles the pressure on Yahoo
• Yahoo slams Ballmer's bully tactics
• Microsoft bites back at Yahoo rejection
• Google 'close' to bailing out Yahoo
• Strong Yahoo financials will not see off Microsoft
• Microsoft abandons Yahoo bid
• Microsoft 'dodged the Yahoo bullet'
• Google hints at ad partnership with Yahoo
• Yahoo/Microsoft deal may be back on
• Yahoo board fights back at Icahn
• Microsoft restarts talks with Yahoo
• Yahoo postpones annual meeting
• Vulture capitalists circle Yahoo
• Ballmer shrugs off failed Yahoo bid
• Icahn vows to yank Yang from Yahoo
• Yahoo turned down $40 per share offer from Microsoft
• Icahn slams Yang as 'James Bond villain'
• Icahn aims to sell Yahoo for $49.5bn
• Icahn steps up attack on Yahoo board
• Microsoft leaves door open for Yahoo deal
• Yahoo claims all talks with Microsoft have ended
• Google signs advertising deal with Yahoo