Ballmer: Only one meeting so far with Yahoo's Bartz

Although you'd never know it from most of the headlines today, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said he has had only one meeting so far with Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz since she became CEO. And it sounds -- at least according to Ballmer's remarks -- that he and Bartz did little more than exchange pleasantries.

Ballmer reportedly told McGraw-Hill Media Summit conference attendees the same thing he's been saying for the past several months: That Microsoft would still be interested in doing a search deal with Yahoo. But Ballmer also acknowledged he's only had one meeting with Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz since she took over in January.

Here are some of the headlines that ensued: Ballmer Bullish on Yahoo Search Deal Microsoft CEO Still Sees Possible Yahoo Deal

Microsoft's Ballmer Signals Renewed Interest In Yahoo

My take: In spite of Wall Street's and Yahoo shareholders' hopes, there's nothing new happening on the Microsoft-Yahoo search front. It's full steam ahead on the Kumo rebranding and planned spring search update. (And yes, I still believe all signs are pointing to Kumo being not just the "beta"  name but the final name, too, for Live Search.)