Microsoft and Yahoo’s search agreement has received clearance from the US and European regulators, with the two companies announcing that it will now begin the process of implementing the deal.

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Under terms of the agreement, Microsoft will provide Yahoo with the same search result listings available through Bing, and Yahoo will innovate around those listings by integrating rich Yahoo content, enhanced listings with conveniently organized information about key topics, and tools to tailor the experience for Yahoo! users.

According to the companies, its unified search marketplace will deliver improved innovation for consumers, better volume and efficiency for advertisers and better monetisation opportunities for web publishers through a platform that contains a larger pool of search queries.

Yahoo’s CEO, Carol Bartz, said, “This breakthrough search alliance means Yahoo! can focus even more on our own innovative search experience. Yahoo! gets to do what we do best: combine our science and technology with compelling content to build personally relevant online experiences for our users and customers.”

Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer added, “Although we are just at the beginning of this process, we have reached an exciting milestone. I believe that together, Microsoft and Yahoo! will promote more choice, better value and greater innovation to our customers as well as to advertisers and publishers.”

The companies said that all global customers and partners are expected to be transitioned by early 2012.

Once the transition is in place, Yahoo and Microsoft will each represent and provide customer support to different advertiser segments. Yahoo’s sales team will exclusively represent and support high volume advertisers, SEO and SEM agencies, and resellers and their clients. Microsoft will represent and support self-service advertisers.