In a rare slip for Google Inc , Yahoo Inc and Microsoft Corp gained share as Google lost ground in the Web search market in June, industry data released on Friday shows.

Yahoo Inc is unlikely to get into a bidding war over AOL with Microsoft Corp because if Microsoft gets in the way, Yahoo could instead renew talks over News Corp's (NWSa.N) Web properties, a person with knowledge of the plans said on Thursday.

Yahoo Inc. sent a letter to shareholders Thursday in which it called Microsoft Corp.'s actions in its dance to acquire all or part of the Internet company "stupefying."

Time Warner Inc's discussions to merge or sell its AOL Internet division with Microsoft Corp or Yahoo Inc have taken on new urgency ahead of Yahoo's Aug 1 shareholders meeting, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Tuesday.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apparently abandoning hopes for a truce with Yahoo Inc., investor Carl Icahn sharpened his focus on replacing the Internet company's board Monday after his attempt to negotiate a deal with Microsoft Corp. was angrily rejected.

July 13 (Bloomberg) -- Yahoo! Inc. rejected a proposal from Microsoft Corp. and billionaire investor Carl Icahn that would have broken up the Internet company, saying they were trying to ``coerce'' officials into selling assets.

Yahoo Inc on Saturday rejected a proposal to sell its search business to Microsoft Corp and hand over the remainder of the company to activist investor Carl Icahn.

Sun Valley, Idaho » News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch ruled out renewing any discussions to help Yahoo! fend off a possible takeover attempt by Microsoft Corp.

SUN VALLEY, Idaho -- News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch said his media conglomerate is "very unlikely" to be a part of any deal for Yahoo Inc., scuttling talk that Microsoft Corp. was making headway in enlisting the media mogul as part of a deal to break up the Internet search company.

Google Inc. backs Yahoo in its effort to stave off an unsolicited takeover by Microsoft Corp. because an independent Yahoo will increase competition in the Internet search and advertising markets, Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said here Thursday.