Yahoo, Microsoft to challenge Google

SAN FRANCISCO » U.S. and European regulators have cleared the long-discussed Internet search partnership between Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc., enabling the rivals to form a tag team as they try to mount a more serious challenge to Google Inc.

The government approvals announced yesterday anointed an alliance that Microsoft and Yahoo proposed nearly seven months ago after years of flirtation and often contentious negotiations.

Microsoft first approached Yahoo about working together in late 2006 and again in 2007. In 2008 Microsoft launched a hostile bid to buy Yahoo in its entirety, only to withdraw the $47.5 billion offer in exasperation.

Yahoo now plans to rely on Microsoft's search technology in an attempt to boost its sagging profits. Yahoo's stock has been slumping since Microsoft took away its last offer of $33 per share in May 2008, and the shares rose 10 cents to $15.54 yesterday. Microsoft shares gained 38 cents to $28.97.

Microsoft is counting on the 10-year deal with Yahoo to provide more muscle as it tries to counter Google's domination of the lucrative Internet search market. The companies make money by charging advertisers to pay to have their links appear when people search for certain terms.

United adds Maui-Chicago flight

United Airlines is restoring a daily seasonal flight from Chicago to Kahului, Maui, that will begin June 9 and run through Aug. 14. It will be the only daily flight that United will offer between the two cities.

Currently, the carrier offers 22 daily flights to the state.

Whole Foods Maui opens next week

Whole Foods Market will open its first Maui store Wednesday at Maui Mall.

Doors will open at 9 a.m., with the company's traditional bread-breaking ceremony. The first 200 shoppers who spend $50 or more will receive a free reusable bag. The tote is exclusive to Whole Foods' Kahului store and depicts a pineapple, representing Hawaiian hospitality and Maui's deep agricultural history.

AT&T to up Hawaii wireless capacity

AT&T said yesterday that it plans to add nearly 10 new cell sites and upgrade more than 10 additional cell sites to 3G throughout the state.

The planned wireless network enhancement strategy is part of AT&T's 2010 wireline and wireless capital investment, which is expected to be in the range of $18 billion to $19 billion companywide, an increase of between 5 percent and 10 percent over 2009.

BIA awards deadline nears

The final deadline for all submission binders for the 2010 Building Industry Association of Hawaii Renaissance Building and Remodeling Awards is March 5. The statewide competition is open to all residential and commercial projects, either new construction or remodeled, that have not been previously entered in this BIA competition.

For more information and to obtain an entry form, contact Clarice Watanabe at 629-7503 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

ON THE MOVE

  Martin & MacArthur has named Traci Paiva as general manager of corporate alliances. She has more than 20 years of customer service experience and previously worked at VRE and Aloha Airlines.

ProService Hawaii has hired Cherie Watanabe as solutions manager. She was previously with Ceridian Corp. for more than 20 years and also served as human resources information systems manager/compensation coordinator at Punahou School.

The board of directors of Enterprise Honolulu has selected the following new directors: Robin Campaniano, Darren Kimura, Nelson Lau and David Tumilowicz. Elected on Sept. 17 were James Ajello, Colbert Matsumoto and Patrick Sullivan. Elected on Nov. 11 was Mike McCartney.