AT&T; to Sell Services on Yahoo’s Web Sites

AT&T; Corp. on Monday forged a marketing partnership with Internet search-engine company Yahoo Inc., the fourth alliance the telecommunications giant has made in two weeks to broaden its reach among Web surfers.

Beginning in June, Yahoo users will be able to purchase certain AT&T; services by clicking on an AT&T; icon at key locations throughout Yahoo’s popular collection of Web sites. Yahoo is the leading search engine on the Internet.

Yahoo users will be able to purchase traditional telephone services such as long-distance or wireless. The pact does not include a link to AT&T;’s online service, AT&T; WorldNet, because Yahoo already has an exclusive pact to market the Internet services of AT&T; rival MCI Communications Corp. New York-based AT&T; and Santa Clara-based Yahoo also plan to introduce a voice-enabled chat service that parallels traditional phone services. That service would allow a chat room participant to turn a traditional keyboard-based session into a voice conversation. Participants can establish a voice link without revealing their phone number to others, the companies said.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

AT&T; in the last month has signed numerous deals with Internet search companies, including Excite Inc., Lycos Inc. and Infoseek Corp.

The link with AT&T; gives the Internet search companies additional advertising revenue and another boost in their efforts to evolve into full-fledged online services, analysts said.

AT&T; shares slipped 44 cents to close at $56.56 on the New York Stock Exchange; Yahoo fell $1.50 to $116.56 on Nasdaq.