Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks to shareholders at the Microsoft annual shareholders meeting in Bellevue, Washington, November 19, 2008.

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhuanet)-- Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive, had a meeting with Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock in New York earlier this week, according to media reports on Tuesday.

The media reports cited an unnamed source who had been briefed on the meeting, but no details of the conversation were released.

Yahoo just appointed Carol Bartz as chief executive. The meeting has heightened speculation that the two companies may be able to agree on a takeover. Microsoft possibly will acquire Yahoo's search engine business.

It is said Bartz and Ballmer had an informal conversation after she was selected by Yahoo's board.

Ms. Bartz acknowledged on Jan. 13 that deciding whether a search deal made sense was one of the big strategic questions she faced.

She said a deal seemed not a good idea during the employee meeting but added that she would spend time studying the matter.

Jerry Yang, who has resigned as the head of Yahoo, refused to reach a deal with Microsoft last year, angering many of the company's investors.

Yahoo and Microsoft didn't give comments for the meeting.