Is the Microsoft-AOL-Google-Yahoo love square taking shape?

April is traditionally a showery month, but the rain is really pouring down on poor old Yahoo!

The past seven days have shed a lot of light on what's rapidly being transformed from the biggest search industry story of the year to showing the potential to become the most drawn-out search saga in living memory. After weeks keeping us guessing about whether it would reject Microsoft's advances, not only has Yahoo! been caught flirting with the possibility of getting together with dark horse AOL, but the company has also made no secret of the fact that it could even get cosy with arch-rival Google.

Don't rule anything out folks. Microsoft isn't the sort of suitor that accepts rejection readily, so this one could run and run. It's true that Yahoo! investor Bill Miller may have spoken out against the intended takeover, but that hasn't stopped Rupert Murdoch from considering a joint proposal with Bill Gates' firm for the search engine.

Whatever you do, don't blink now. The Wall Street Journal reports that a deal between Yahoo! and AOL is 'imminent' as the search pioneer explores every possible alternative to union with Microsoft. A pact with Google isn't out of the question either, with Yahoo! announcing it is to test Google AdSense search ads - an unprecedented move for the rival firms - despite many analysts' fears the alliance could face legal opposition.

Despite the turmoil, Yahoo! has continued to innovate, with videos being introduced to photo-sharing service Flickr. What's more, the search world was marked by new partnerships this week, as Google and Salesforce expanded their alliance and AOL announced a deal with Verizon Wireless.

Mobile search continues to bloom as Opera unveiled its browser for Google's Android platform. And as an Australian firm claims that it will plant two trees for every 1000 searches on Yahoo! and Google, it seems the world has found ways to make search engines greener by the day.

So as the search industry's giants move and shake their way across the complexities of life in the tech world, let the bigmouthmedia newsletter help you keep your finger on the pulse - dig in to this week's stories...

Australian firm launches global green search engine initiative

A new Australian search engine scheme based on environmentally-friendly principles has been launched in 14 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and Germany.

AOL expands deal with Verizon

AOL has revealed it has expanded its deal with broadband and communications firm Verizon.

Google frees up control of KML

Google's keyhole mark-up language (KML) technology has been accepted as an open standard for describing geographical data, it has been revealed.

AOL-Yahoo! deal 'imminent'

In a bid to fend off Microsoft's takeover bid, search engine provider Yahoo! is closing in on a deal with AOL, according to sources.

Yahoo!-Google deal 'could face legal opposition'

Yahoo!'s recently announced plan to form an alliance with rival search engine provider Google concerning Google's AdSense for Search service could run into legal problems, experts have warned.

Google and Salesforce expand collaboration

Internet giant Google is set to extend its partnership with enterprise applications firm Salesforce, it has been revealed.

Online video viewing 'exploding' in UK

The online video market is seeing significant expansion in the UK.

Google 'taking advice from mergers expert'

Google is seeking advice from ex-investment banker Frank Quattrone as part of a review of its strategy, sources close to the matter have revealed.

Opera unveils browser for Google's Android platform

Opera has made its Opera Mini mobile browser available for Google's Android platform.

Murdoch may assist Microsoft in its Yahoo! takeover bid

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is considering the prospect of teaming up with Microsoft to assist it in its bid to takeover search engine provider Yahoo!, it has been suggested.