Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer still hopes he can strike a deal to buy a piece of Yahoo.

At a technology and media summit in New York, Ballmer said that such a deal would improve Microsoft's web search business, expand its base of users and advertisers. However, it does not seem that Microsoft is rushing, and Ballmer claims that the only conversation he had with Carol Bartz since she was appointed Yahoo CEO, was in January.

Last year Yahoo's ex-CEO Jerry Yang turned down a $47.5 billion offer from Microsoft, much to the dismay of many stockholders, as mere months later the market went into tailspin.

Although it's still interested in Yahoo, Microsoft is continuing to develop its own search technology.

More here.