Yahoo closing in on Vodafone mobile search deal

Yahoo reportedly in negotiations with European telecoms giant Vodafone to replace rival web services giant Google as the operator's default mobile search provider. Bloomberg first reported the news, citing sources familiar with the talks--details are scarce, and both Yahoo and Vodafone declined comment, with a Yahoo spokesperson confirming only that the firm is in talks with "a number of operators around the world, including Europe." The report adds that Vodafone's current default search deal with Google, which dates back to 2006, will expire later this year, and that Yahoo is not the only search provider in talks with the operator.

Existing Yahoo search partners include AT&T, T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile UK. A new study issued this week by web solutions provider NetApplications notes that while Google accounted for 97.5 percent of global smartphone searches in February 2009, Yahoo followed with just 2.03 percent.

For more on the Yahoo/Vodafone talks:
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