It appears that Microsoft is once again talking to Yahoo about the possible acquisition of the company. That being said, there is a lot of confusion on exactly what the two parties are discussing. Some sources are reporting that Microsoft is attempting to resurrect the offer that they made for Yahoo a few weeks back. On the other side of things, some feel that Microsoft is only interested in purchasing Yahoo’s search business. Either way, most believe that the companies are definitely discussing some sort of deal.

TechCrunch, a popular tech news blog, reported that both sides are open to discussions about a full buyout. They also reported that Microsoft is offering less than the $33/share that was on the table when Yahoo walked away the first time. With quotes from multiple sources close to the situation, it is safe to say that there is some validity to the information reported by TechCrunch.

Other media sources are disputing the claims made by TechCrunch. They believe that Microsoft and Yahoo are once again discussing a deal, but only for the search business. In other words, neither party is interested in a full buyout at this point in time.

For now, it is difficult to say what is going on. With conflicting reports, it is difficult to say whether or not Microsoft is interested in resuming earlier negotiations for all of Yahoo’s operations, or if they simply want to purchase their search business. If Microsoft decides to move forward with an offer for the search business only, it is thought to be in the range of $1 billion.

Just when everybody thought that Microsoft and Yahoo had parted ways, it appears that both companies are not ready to move on just yet. Is a deal imminent or is this simply more talk?

The biggest change Microsoft is claiming is that of relevant search results. In other words, the results that are returned after a query are said to be closer to what the searcher is looking for; this is where Google really excels. Additionally, the Live search engine has also been updated to better handle common misspellings and abbreviations.

Many people will be surprised to find out that Microsoft’s research shows that they have matched Google in the relevant search department. Of course, this is something that users will have to decide on for themselves. If this claim is true, it will go a long way in helping Live Search Engine to increase its user base.

Users will notice that search pages for particular products, such as electronic items, offer quality information about the particular item. This includes everything from pricing details to images to user reviews. The Live Search Engine is set to collect this data from a wide variety of sites in order to ensure effective and accurate information.

Believe it or not, Microsoft is not so concerned with attracting new users. Even though this would be nice, they hope that the Live Search Engine can enhance the overall experience for those who are already using the service.

Over the next few weeks it will be interesting to see the reactions to Microsoft’s Live Search Engine. If what the company is saying is true, it is safe to say that users will be more than pleased. Only time will tell if the Live Search Engine can compete head to head with Google and Yahoo.