Overture lands European search deal

Overture Services, the commercial search unit of Yahoo, said on Tuesday that it has signed a multiyear pact with Wanadoo, a top European Internet access provider and directory company. Under the deal, Overture will provide sponsored search listings to Wanadoo's network of Web sites across Europe, including Freeserve U.K., Wanadoo France and Wanadoo Spain. Pasadena, Calif.-based Overture, which has provided paid listings to Wanadoo for two years, will also begin delivering ads to Wanadoo Netherlands through its Dutch operation, which opened in September.

The deal helps Overture maintain a solid foothold in Europe, where it competes with rival Google and others for commercial search partnerships. Wanadoo is a subsidiary of France Telecom that claims about 8.9 million Internet access customers.