Ballmer Confirms Microsoft-Yahoo "Dialogue"*

At a news conference in Germany, Steve Ballmer seems to confirm SVP Jean-Philippe Courtois's remark last week that Microsoft (MSFT) and Yahoo (YHOO) are in talks. Or at least that's how we read Steve's latest remarks (via Reuters). Source close to situation suggests otherwise (see below). Steve also says Microsoft standing pat for now, but is considering "alternatives" (see below).

"We still think the deal makes sense with the price and structure that we announced and we hope that over time that becomes a reality and we're working towards that," Steve Ballmer said at a news conference on Monday.

"There's been a range of dialogue and there's a range of alternatives being considered. I think it's best for me not to get into the detail," Ballmer added at the event in Hanover, Germany, on the eve of CeBIT, Europe's biggest technology fair.

*UPDATE: Source close to situation thinks Ballmer was referring to a "range of dialogue and range of alternatives" inside Microsoft. In light of Jean-Phillipe controversy last week, though, if this is the case, seems Steve could have chosen words more carefully.

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