SEO Journal on Ulitzer

Microsoft hasn't been able to make a dent in Google's top-heavy market share in search but it appears to be doing a nice job sucking the vital juices out of its intended partner Yahoo.

According to the latest figures from comScore, Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, was a breath away from claiming 10% of US searches in October, up a half-a-point over September while poor consumptive Yahoo at 18%, a new low, lost eight-tenths of a point.

Yahoo used to be a plumper 20%-21%.

Google like Microsoft was also up a half point. AOL's got a shrinking 2.9% and it's on the block with Microsoft considered the likely buyer.

According to the Dow Jones blog All Things Digital, the source on goings-on with Microsoft and Yahoo, the pair is close to finally signing a belated definitive agreement detailing their convoluted alliance. Maybe by the end of the week, it says.

The blog is anticipating little guff from the regulators in DC. It goes without saying that the European Commission could present a speed bump.