Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive officer, has increased the pressure on Yahoo to hand over control of its search business to his software company.

Speaking in an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Ballmer set the stage for a new showdown nearly a year after Microsoft's first aborted attempt at a full takeover.

However, he ruled out a full acquisition, despite a collapse in Yahoo's share price that has pushed its market value down to $17bn, less than 40 per cent of the amount that Microsoft offered to pay in a mixture of cash and stock last year.

The best time for a landmark search pact between the companies was during the current management transition at both companies, Mr Ballmer said.

“We now have someone in place running our online business, and Yahoo's out looking for a CEO.

“If a search deal is to be made, it's probably to be made in the interim period for new leaders in both places.”

Microsoft hired Qi Lu, Yahoo's former search chief, late last year to head its online operations, a move that was seen as a way to smooth any potential deal between the companies.

Yahoo refused to comment.

However, following the harsh criticism he received from shareholders over his failure to agree to a Microsoft acquisition, Jerry Yang, Yahoo's outgoing CEO, has said the internet company would be open to any new discussions about a deal.

Yahoo has been searching for a replacement for Mr Yang since November and is believed to be closing in on a candidate.

为让雅虎(Yahoo)将搜索业务出售给微软(Microsoft)，微软首席执行官史蒂夫·鲍尔默(Steve Ballmer)增加了对雅虎施加的压力。

在接受英国《金融时报》采访时，鲍尔默为新一轮的摊牌谈判做好了准备，这距离微软首次全面收购雅虎的努力失败已有近一年的时间了。

不过，鲍尔默排除了全面收购的可能，虽然雅虎股价暴跌已导致其市值缩水至170亿美元，还不到微软去年现金加股票收购报价的40%。

鲍尔默表示，当前两家公司都处于管理层人事变动的过渡期，这是双方合并搜索业务、达成这项里程碑式交易的最佳时期。

“现在我们运营在线业务的负责人已经到任，而雅虎正在寻找首席执行官的人选。”

“如果我们计划就搜索业务达成交易的话，大概会在两家公司的新领导人到任前的过渡时期完成。”

去年年底，微软聘用雅虎前搜索业务主管陆奇出任互联网业务主管。这被视作微软为保证两家公司间任何可能达成交易的顺利完成而采取的行动。

雅虎拒绝置评。

不过，在杨致远(Jerry Yang)由于未接受微软收购要约而遭到股东严厉批评之后，这位即将离职的雅虎首席执行官曾表示，雅虎公司将对任何有关收购交易的新谈判敞开大门。

自去年11月以来，雅虎一直在寻找替代杨致远的人选，并据信已逐渐锁定一位候选人。