Telegate has announced a strategic alliance with Google. In the future, businesses represented in the Telegate’s online directories 11 88 0 and Klicktel can advertise using Google’s Pay-per-click (PPC) “AdWords“, for which the advertiser only pays when the ads are click-on by users.  Telegate joins the fray in competition with other local-PPC providers such as Yahoo! or suchen.de.

As announced by the enterprise in a press release, the cooperation stands to profit above all small and medium size undertakings.  This target group has historically under-utilized this marketing opportunity. Now firms signed as directory clients with Telegate can now also choose to add search engine marketing via Google.  Thus, a company can have better localized and context-based access to potential clients, by registering specific keywords with the Google AdWords program, with these ads displayed in either or both the online presences of Telegate and Google.

Of course, such a deal needs to bring benefits to both the directory-provider and the search engine giant: Telegate, sees the collaboration as strengthening their position as ‘leading’ special local search provider in Germany. Google profits in turn through the experience and ‘know-how’ of the 400-strong Telegate team.

Rather Google than Microsoft, seemingly think the internet portal creators Yahoo! thereby negotiating a non-exclusive advertising contract between the search engine giant and its arch-rival.

In February this year, as is well-known, Microsoft made a bid for the complete takeover of Yahoo! This proposal came adrift in May 2008 after exhaustive negotiations. However Microsoft still showed interest in Yahoo! – and wanted at least to buy out Yahoo’s search engine undertaking. Yet again, the deal came to nothing and Microsoft walked away empty handed. On 12th June 2008, Yahoo! announced in a press release that negotiations were officially over with Microsoft.

Later the same day, Yahoo! announced its cooperation with Google. And Google too announced the collaboration in a separate press release. As is to be discerned from the press releases, the agreement covers a non-exclusive advertizing contract between the companies. Soon, paid ads from Google’s “Adsense for Search” and “Adsense for Content” will be visible on Yahoo! pages, as well as on the search results of Yahoo! and its partner and affiliate portals. This agreement applies only to the USA and Canadian Yahoo! services.

The agreement was negotiated for a four year term, with the option for two extensions of three years each, to a maximum of ten years. In the meantime, both sides have factored in a wait-time of three and a half months to allow the US Justice department time to evaluate the cooperative venture.

The USA-version of the local search portal Yahoo! Local, now is offering a new feature – the so-called “search circle”.

Using this new function, the user can limit the results to their personally chosen area/region, via the map view option, said Tom Wailes of the Yahoo! Local Team, in a post in the Yahoo! Local Blog.

To use the Search Circle function, after generating search results, one clicks on the “expand Map” link above the map provided. In the subsequent enlarged map, a blue-edged circle appears, defining the geographic limits of the search results at hand. The defining circle can be moved, enlarged or reduced according to mood or need. The results are then adjusted automatically to reflect the newly defined area. Thus it is possible for instance, to show all cafés, restaurants or shopping possibilities within a radius of X kilometer from any point, such as home, work or hotel.

A similar feature has also been available for over a year at AskCity.com (the local USA search option of ask.com (see our post). On that site, users are able to define a sector for search generation using a drawing tool provided. However, unlike Yahoo! Local, one is not able to drag or adjust the circle without redrawing.