Microsoft and Yahoo have had an on-again / off-again relationship for years, often whipsawing from one extreme to another. This time, however, it’s official, agreed upon, and public. The two companies have signed an agreement aimed at improving their competitive position against Google. Yahoo executives characterized the deal as providing a “boatload of value” as opposed to the “boatload of cash” Microsoft offered back in February of 2008. Microsoft’s first deal was a purchase offer with a $44.6 billion check,