Vodafone to Opt for Yahoo's Search Engine

According to the latest news on the Web, Vodafone might soon change its option in what the default search engine on its mobile phones would be. Since the agreement between the mobile phone maker and Google is to expire this year, the company might not renew it but choose Yahoo! instead to provide the search option on its handsets.

It seems that Vodafone Group Plc and Yahoo! are already in talks regarding a future partnership for the distribution of the mobile search product across Europe, at least this is what sources familiar with the mobile phone operator's plans have said, reports Bloomberg. Anyway, Vodafone hasn't commented on the possible negotiations, and hasn't confirmed the fact that the Google deal will expire this year either.

If the rumors prove true, we might get Yahoo’s mobile search product as the default search engine on the mobile devices that the England-based Vodafone will sell in Europe. For the time being, it seems that no contract has been signed yet, and people familiar with the carrier's plans also stated that Vodafone was in talks with other parties too.

As many of you might already know, Yahoo! already provides Web searches on the mobile phones T-Mobile USA is selling in the country. At the same time, the company also has deals with European operators like Deutsche Teelkom AG's T-Mobile unit, as well as with Telefonica SA’s O2 unit.

Zealous Wiley, a Yahoo! spokesman, has stated that the company is also discussing deals with a series of carriers “around the world, including Europe,” and that Yahoo! does not have partnerships with those operators at the moment.

“In the long run, mobile phones are just as important as the desktop to have a strong position in,” said Jack Neele, a fund manager at Robeco NV in Rotterdam. “It’s important for Yahoo to get these deals, certainly with a carrier like Vodafone, which has an incredibly big number of customers.”