Location-based search results are more useful if it provides more information about a specific location. And that’s what Yahoo Local Search is trying to fulfill by introducing additional links to the Yahoo Shortcut that appear at the top of the Yahoo Local Search results.So now when you do a local search for a business, the Yahoo Local Search Results page will include links to other information such as photos, reviews, directions and and general overview about a particular business.
But the best part is the fact that clicking on these additional categories will pull out the relevant information and display it right on the search results page. That saves you a lot of time when trying to learn about a particular place and moreso if you are stuck in a place and you don’t know where to go. Using you mobile phone to do a search on Yahool Local with these enhancements can save a lot of time and trouble as well.
The enhancement to Yahoo Shortcut on Local Search is part of Yahoo’s effort to get a grip of user’s intent to match it with the right Yahoo content.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Why Yahoo Should Sell Itself to Microsoft.(or Google)
Yahoo is caught in an enviable position, between a rock and a hard place, of Microsoft and Google.
About a decade ago, Yahoo was the wunderkind. No one had anything like its search engine. One problem was that it was a little ahead of its time. Few people fully understood the value of search engines. Another issue was that it was just another tech stock; one that went boom in 1999, then bust in 2000. (Google was fortunate to come of the scene afterward, and avoid this.)
By the time Google made its mark in the early 2000s, Yahoo was "old news." It had not made anything of its head start, and was outpositioned by a younger, more nimble company. So much for first mover advantage.
The latest news is that Microsoft, the industry giant, has now come up with a credible alternative. It is the last entry in this space. but the one with the strongest backing. That's because Microsoft is a much more established company that isn't only about search engines. It's basically about software control, of which search engine is just one application.
Yahoo is in an unenviable position, trapped between a larger producer of its main product, and a smaller producer that's a much larger company overall. These two companies are about to go to war. As Machiavelli advised about 600 years, ago a (prince) in such a situation "must declare for one or the other, or else become a prey of the victor."
About a decade ago, Yahoo was the wunderkind. No one had anything like its search engine. One problem was that it was a little ahead of its time. Few people fully understood the value of search engines. Another issue was that it was just another tech stock; one that went boom in 1999, then bust in 2000. (Google was fortunate to come of the scene afterward, and avoid this.)
By the time Google made its mark in the early 2000s, Yahoo was "old news." It had not made anything of its head start, and was outpositioned by a younger, more nimble company. So much for first mover advantage.
The latest news is that Microsoft, the industry giant, has now come up with a credible alternative. It is the last entry in this space. but the one with the strongest backing. That's because Microsoft is a much more established company that isn't only about search engines. It's basically about software control, of which search engine is just one application.
Yahoo is in an unenviable position, trapped between a larger producer of its main product, and a smaller producer that's a much larger company overall. These two companies are about to go to war. As Machiavelli advised about 600 years, ago a (prince) in such a situation "must declare for one or the other, or else become a prey of the victor."
Friday, April 24, 2009
Yahoo to close GeoCities this year
Yahoo Inc. said Thursday that it would shut down its GeoCities free Web-hosting service after paying about $3 billion for the unit in 1999.
GeoCities isn't accepting new accounts and will close later this year, Yahoo said. GeoCities, Yahoo's second-biggest acquisition behind Broadcast.com Inc., lets users design personal websites to show off photos, promote local clubs or publicize business services.
Chief Executive Carol Bartz is trimming costs as Yahoo copes with a slowing online-advertising market. The company said this week it will cut about 700 jobs, or 5% of the total, after eliminating about 1,600 in the fourth quarter.
Yahoo pointed GeoCities users to its paid Web-hosting service. The company will give users more details on saving GeoCities' data later this year.
U.S. visitors to GeoCities dropped 25% to 12 million in March from the year-ago period, according to research firm ComScore Inc. in Reston, Va.
Other services Yahoo has closed include travel-search site FareChase and online storage service Briefcase.
GeoCities isn't accepting new accounts and will close later this year, Yahoo said. GeoCities, Yahoo's second-biggest acquisition behind Broadcast.com Inc., lets users design personal websites to show off photos, promote local clubs or publicize business services.
Chief Executive Carol Bartz is trimming costs as Yahoo copes with a slowing online-advertising market. The company said this week it will cut about 700 jobs, or 5% of the total, after eliminating about 1,600 in the fourth quarter.
Yahoo pointed GeoCities users to its paid Web-hosting service. The company will give users more details on saving GeoCities' data later this year.
U.S. visitors to GeoCities dropped 25% to 12 million in March from the year-ago period, according to research firm ComScore Inc. in Reston, Va.
Other services Yahoo has closed include travel-search site FareChase and online storage service Briefcase.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Yahoo Offers iPhone Messenger App
Yahoo recently made a stand-alone version of its Messenger instant messaging application available for the iPhone. How does it compare?
I admit that I rarely use IM from my phone, but it has come in handy on occasion. Since AOL's AIM app became available for the iPhone last summer, I've used it from time to time, and it generally works well for short conversations.
Yahoo has finally gotten around to offering a version of its own messaging client for the iPhone. Yahoo IM is built into the new Yahoo Mobile application that was recently made available for the iPhone. If you're not interested in installing the larger program, Yahoo Messenger for the iPhone can cover the basics of IM.
The app is a free download from the iPhone Apps Store. It downloaded and installed in a snap via 3G. Signing in and connecting, however, were a bit problematic.
I launched the app, entered my username and password, and watched it chug along "connecting" for more than five minutes. Eventually it logged in. After that first time, it logged in faster on subsequent attempts.
The user interface is as easy to figure out as any other on the iPhone. There are three tabs along the bottom that give you access to your contacts, messages and settings. Tapping any of your contacts brings up a screen in which to compose IMs. There is a rich set of emoticons that can be inserted into each message, and you can also insert URLs and images.
Composing and sending messages is a snap. What's sort of interesting is that in the main message screen, the blank spot to compose a message has a note that says "What are you doing?" If that sounds familiar, think Twitter. You can also start typing new messages from this screen, and inserting a recipient is as simple as pressing the screen.
The settings let you control your availability (available, unavailable, invisible), as well as customize how you view your contacts.
In all, it's a good IM client for the iPhone, and is well deserving of the four stars it is currently rated at in the iPhone Apps Store.
If you're more fully entwined in Yahoo's services, you'd probably be better off just using the Yahoo Mobile application, which includes tons of other services and features.
I admit that I rarely use IM from my phone, but it has come in handy on occasion. Since AOL's AIM app became available for the iPhone last summer, I've used it from time to time, and it generally works well for short conversations.
Yahoo has finally gotten around to offering a version of its own messaging client for the iPhone. Yahoo IM is built into the new Yahoo Mobile application that was recently made available for the iPhone. If you're not interested in installing the larger program, Yahoo Messenger for the iPhone can cover the basics of IM.
The app is a free download from the iPhone Apps Store. It downloaded and installed in a snap via 3G. Signing in and connecting, however, were a bit problematic.
I launched the app, entered my username and password, and watched it chug along "connecting" for more than five minutes. Eventually it logged in. After that first time, it logged in faster on subsequent attempts.
The user interface is as easy to figure out as any other on the iPhone. There are three tabs along the bottom that give you access to your contacts, messages and settings. Tapping any of your contacts brings up a screen in which to compose IMs. There is a rich set of emoticons that can be inserted into each message, and you can also insert URLs and images.
Composing and sending messages is a snap. What's sort of interesting is that in the main message screen, the blank spot to compose a message has a note that says "What are you doing?" If that sounds familiar, think Twitter. You can also start typing new messages from this screen, and inserting a recipient is as simple as pressing the screen.
The settings let you control your availability (available, unavailable, invisible), as well as customize how you view your contacts.
In all, it's a good IM client for the iPhone, and is well deserving of the four stars it is currently rated at in the iPhone Apps Store.
If you're more fully entwined in Yahoo's services, you'd probably be better off just using the Yahoo Mobile application, which includes tons of other services and features.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Three ways Yahoo could become great again
Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz has had two months to settle into her purple-and-gold throne in Sunnyvale. She's sent some rah-rah notes to buck up the spirits of the Yahoos. And she's made some quick moves to restructure her leadership team.
Now, all she needs is a strategy to save Yahoo.
Fortunately, I have just what she needs: some friendly, unsolicited advice from your local business columnist.
Despite all you've read about Yahoo this past year, the company has some tremendous strengths and opportunities.
I was already a fan of the strategy that much-maligned founder and former Chief Executive Jerry Yang was pursuing. He wanted to turn Yahoo into an open, more social platform that would allow anyone to write applications to add new functions and services. This is a long-term strategy, but one that reflects the way the Web is evolving. Bartz should build on it.
Here are three steps for doing that:
1. Recognize what Yahoo is and is not. I have never really considered Yahoo to be a search company. But somehow, it let itself be defined as one, and so looked increasingly sluggish compared to Google.
2. Sell Yahoo search to Microsoft. CEO Steve Ballmer again threw the door wide open last week. During an interview with a BusinessWeek editor, he said he'd chatted with Bartz by phone about search and "sees a real opportunity for a deal."
3. Buy Twitter and FriendFeed. At first glance, such a suggestion might just cause users of both services to go, well, berserk. But hear me out.
Now, all she needs is a strategy to save Yahoo.
Fortunately, I have just what she needs: some friendly, unsolicited advice from your local business columnist.
Despite all you've read about Yahoo this past year, the company has some tremendous strengths and opportunities.
I was already a fan of the strategy that much-maligned founder and former Chief Executive Jerry Yang was pursuing. He wanted to turn Yahoo into an open, more social platform that would allow anyone to write applications to add new functions and services. This is a long-term strategy, but one that reflects the way the Web is evolving. Bartz should build on it.
Here are three steps for doing that:
1. Recognize what Yahoo is and is not. I have never really considered Yahoo to be a search company. But somehow, it let itself be defined as one, and so looked increasingly sluggish compared to Google.
2. Sell Yahoo search to Microsoft. CEO Steve Ballmer again threw the door wide open last week. During an interview with a BusinessWeek editor, he said he'd chatted with Bartz by phone about search and "sees a real opportunity for a deal."
3. Buy Twitter and FriendFeed. At first glance, such a suggestion might just cause users of both services to go, well, berserk. But hear me out.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Yahoo wins approval of the Agreement on Microsoft More Specials
Yahoo Inc. has received approval of a judge of a regulation imposing changes to the company starting that investors support the plan, it will be easier for Microsoft Corp. and other potential suitors to buy the owner of the second People of the United States, Internet search engine.
Judge of the Court of Chancery of Delaware William B. Chandler III said today he approved the agreement, which resolves on Yahoo investors trial leaders decided last year to reject Microsoft bid. Shareholders continued after the former CEO Jerry Yang rejected an offer from the largest software company. Microsoft has declined a final offer of as much as $ 33 per share, or $ 47.5 billion in June.
The regulation is "an extraordinary victory" for investors who seek to remove obstacles to an acquisition, "said Joel Friedlander, a lawyer for two pension funds in Detroit on Yahoo continued processing of the offer from Microsoft.
"We are very pleased that the settlement was approved because we believe it is in the best interests of the company and our shareholders," Kim Rubey, a spokeswoman for Yahoo, said in a statement e-mail.
Sunnyvale, California, Yahoo rose 52 cents, or 4.2 percent, to $ 13.05 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading.
Search Alliance Eyed
Yahoo said last month, the leaders, they are open to an alliance of research on the Internet with Microsoft to compete with industry leader Google Inc. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was reported February 24, it would be willing to work with Carol Bartz, the new CEO of Yahoo, to reach an agreement.
Bartz and Ballmer are under pressure to the land of their Internet search engines and online advertising businesses, which combined generated less than half of Google's revenue in the fourth quarter.
Ballmer said for the past several months and as recently repeated last week that he is no longer interested in buying all of Yahoo. Microsoft is interested in a type of Internet search agreement with Yahoo, he said.
Shareholders who are waiting today to modify the evolution of thought Ballmer will be disappointed, "said Brent Williams, analyst with Benchmark Co. in New York, the rate of Microsoft, who" hold ".
"Minor"
"I can not imagine that this would change the mind," he said. It is not even come close to fixing the major issues Microsoft is buying Yahoo. This has always been a minor issue. "
The day after the most recent comment Ballmer, Yahoo Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgenson said that his company was willing to look things. Yahoo has since announced Jorgenson will leave the company.
Google controls the Internet search market in the United States with 63 per cent of applications, according to ComScore Inc. Reston, Virginia. Yahoo Earnings fell in 10 of last 11 quarters.
Pension funds in Detroit in Delaware, argued that the combinations used Yang of Yahoo severance plan to thwart the Microsoft employees, providing incentives to quit rather than work for a buyer.
The plan, approved by the board of directors of Yahoo in the wake of the offer from Microsoft, has served as a "quasi-poison pill", the consulting firm Glass Lewis said investors Inc. A poison pill is a type of corporate-takeover defense.
The plan initially required that workers be paid if their jobs were eliminated or modified after a change of control of Yahoo. The company was said that the policy to retain employees. Investors have complained that Yahoo made it more expensive to acquire.
$ 1 billion starting
At a hearing in Georgetown, Delaware, today, Chandler Friedlander said that the plan would have forced Yahoo to pay more than $ 1 billion in severance if the Microsoft bid was accepted.
Friedlander also noted that officials have seen Microsoft Yahoo revised plan of the rupture that the creation of "bad words", the court unsealed documents in the case.
"The plan was an attempt by the gum of a takeover by Microsoft," he said. The agreement "is a search engine to deal more likely."
Under the settlement, Yahoo amends the plan to allow investors to launch proxy fights without triggering severance pay to employees, according to legal documents. He also changed the terms of the plan to make it more difficult for workers to claim benefits, if the company receives an offer.
Edward Welch, a lawyer in the case of Yahoo, Chandler said the company agreed to settle so that it can "move forward and conduct its affairs."
While he said he would approve the settlement today, Chandler said he Friedlander rule on the demand side of $ 12 million in legal fees and costs of the case.
The case is Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit v. Yahoo, CA3561, Delaware Chancery Court (Georgetown).
Judge of the Court of Chancery of Delaware William B. Chandler III said today he approved the agreement, which resolves on Yahoo investors trial leaders decided last year to reject Microsoft bid. Shareholders continued after the former CEO Jerry Yang rejected an offer from the largest software company. Microsoft has declined a final offer of as much as $ 33 per share, or $ 47.5 billion in June.
The regulation is "an extraordinary victory" for investors who seek to remove obstacles to an acquisition, "said Joel Friedlander, a lawyer for two pension funds in Detroit on Yahoo continued processing of the offer from Microsoft.
"We are very pleased that the settlement was approved because we believe it is in the best interests of the company and our shareholders," Kim Rubey, a spokeswoman for Yahoo, said in a statement e-mail.
Sunnyvale, California, Yahoo rose 52 cents, or 4.2 percent, to $ 13.05 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading.
Search Alliance Eyed
Yahoo said last month, the leaders, they are open to an alliance of research on the Internet with Microsoft to compete with industry leader Google Inc. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was reported February 24, it would be willing to work with Carol Bartz, the new CEO of Yahoo, to reach an agreement.
Bartz and Ballmer are under pressure to the land of their Internet search engines and online advertising businesses, which combined generated less than half of Google's revenue in the fourth quarter.
Ballmer said for the past several months and as recently repeated last week that he is no longer interested in buying all of Yahoo. Microsoft is interested in a type of Internet search agreement with Yahoo, he said.
Shareholders who are waiting today to modify the evolution of thought Ballmer will be disappointed, "said Brent Williams, analyst with Benchmark Co. in New York, the rate of Microsoft, who" hold ".
"Minor"
"I can not imagine that this would change the mind," he said. It is not even come close to fixing the major issues Microsoft is buying Yahoo. This has always been a minor issue. "
The day after the most recent comment Ballmer, Yahoo Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgenson said that his company was willing to look things. Yahoo has since announced Jorgenson will leave the company.
Google controls the Internet search market in the United States with 63 per cent of applications, according to ComScore Inc. Reston, Virginia. Yahoo Earnings fell in 10 of last 11 quarters.
Pension funds in Detroit in Delaware, argued that the combinations used Yang of Yahoo severance plan to thwart the Microsoft employees, providing incentives to quit rather than work for a buyer.
The plan, approved by the board of directors of Yahoo in the wake of the offer from Microsoft, has served as a "quasi-poison pill", the consulting firm Glass Lewis said investors Inc. A poison pill is a type of corporate-takeover defense.
The plan initially required that workers be paid if their jobs were eliminated or modified after a change of control of Yahoo. The company was said that the policy to retain employees. Investors have complained that Yahoo made it more expensive to acquire.
$ 1 billion starting
At a hearing in Georgetown, Delaware, today, Chandler Friedlander said that the plan would have forced Yahoo to pay more than $ 1 billion in severance if the Microsoft bid was accepted.
Friedlander also noted that officials have seen Microsoft Yahoo revised plan of the rupture that the creation of "bad words", the court unsealed documents in the case.
"The plan was an attempt by the gum of a takeover by Microsoft," he said. The agreement "is a search engine to deal more likely."
Under the settlement, Yahoo amends the plan to allow investors to launch proxy fights without triggering severance pay to employees, according to legal documents. He also changed the terms of the plan to make it more difficult for workers to claim benefits, if the company receives an offer.
Edward Welch, a lawyer in the case of Yahoo, Chandler said the company agreed to settle so that it can "move forward and conduct its affairs."
While he said he would approve the settlement today, Chandler said he Friedlander rule on the demand side of $ 12 million in legal fees and costs of the case.
The case is Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit v. Yahoo, CA3561, Delaware Chancery Court (Georgetown).
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Belgian court fines Yahoo over fraud non-cooperation
A Belgian court on Monday fined Internet search engine Yahoo! 55,000 euros (69,300 dollars) for failing to hand over personal details of users suspected of committing fraud.
Daily fines of 10,000 euros (12,590 dollars) were to be added for non-compliance.
In an enquiry into fraud carried out by people using pseudonyms in Yahoo! email addresses, the prosecutor had called on Yahoo to provide the true identity of the suspected cyber criminals.
California-based Yahoo! refused, arguing that it was a US company and therefore such information would have to be requested through US authorities.
"We strongly disagree with the court's ruling," Yahoo! said in a statement.
"The United States and Belgium have a formal international treaty which the prosecutor should have followed to properly seek information from a US company."
Yahoo! is basing its defense on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Belgium and the United States.
The treaty is intended to "improve the effectiveness of judicial assistance" by having designated authorities, usually respective justice departments, work out legal matters such as producing evidence across borders, according to the US Department of State website.
The public prosecutor responded that Yahoo! was also a Belgian company as its services are available in Belgium, stressing that there had never been such problems with American rivals Google and Microsoft.
The court in the northern town of Termonde imposed the 55,000 euro fine for "refusal to collaborate" with the judicial procedure, adding it would cost Yahoo! a further 10,000 euros per day in fines if it maintains its refusal to hand over the user data sought.
Yahoo! plans an immediate appeal based on the grounds the court does not have jurisdiction over the California firm's US operations and the prosecutor is dodging an international treaty crafted to deal with such cases.
The prosecutor in the Belgian criminal case skipped the MLAT legal process and had the court directly order Yahoo! to hand over private information sought as potential evidence, according to the Internet pioneer.
"Yahoo! is not withholding information from the Belgium government," the company said.
"We have a legal and policy basis for not disclosing information. We have raised this issue with the US government."
Yahoo! was denigrated by US lawmakers in 2007 for providing the Chinese government with email and other information that led to the imprisonment of two men that had advocated online for democracy in the Communist country.
Yahoo! settled a lawsuit filed against it by the Chinese men and their families in US federal court.
Daily fines of 10,000 euros (12,590 dollars) were to be added for non-compliance.
In an enquiry into fraud carried out by people using pseudonyms in Yahoo! email addresses, the prosecutor had called on Yahoo to provide the true identity of the suspected cyber criminals.
California-based Yahoo! refused, arguing that it was a US company and therefore such information would have to be requested through US authorities.
"We strongly disagree with the court's ruling," Yahoo! said in a statement.
"The United States and Belgium have a formal international treaty which the prosecutor should have followed to properly seek information from a US company."
Yahoo! is basing its defense on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Belgium and the United States.
The treaty is intended to "improve the effectiveness of judicial assistance" by having designated authorities, usually respective justice departments, work out legal matters such as producing evidence across borders, according to the US Department of State website.
The public prosecutor responded that Yahoo! was also a Belgian company as its services are available in Belgium, stressing that there had never been such problems with American rivals Google and Microsoft.
The court in the northern town of Termonde imposed the 55,000 euro fine for "refusal to collaborate" with the judicial procedure, adding it would cost Yahoo! a further 10,000 euros per day in fines if it maintains its refusal to hand over the user data sought.
Yahoo! plans an immediate appeal based on the grounds the court does not have jurisdiction over the California firm's US operations and the prosecutor is dodging an international treaty crafted to deal with such cases.
The prosecutor in the Belgian criminal case skipped the MLAT legal process and had the court directly order Yahoo! to hand over private information sought as potential evidence, according to the Internet pioneer.
"Yahoo! is not withholding information from the Belgium government," the company said.
"We have a legal and policy basis for not disclosing information. We have raised this issue with the US government."
Yahoo! was denigrated by US lawmakers in 2007 for providing the Chinese government with email and other information that led to the imprisonment of two men that had advocated online for democracy in the Communist country.
Yahoo! settled a lawsuit filed against it by the Chinese men and their families in US federal court.
Monday, February 23, 2009
CEO Bartz plans to reorganization Yahoo
Carol Bartz, named chief executive last month, is planning to revamp the beleaguered Sunnyvale Web portal in an effort to speed up decision making and help reverse its slowing growth.
The shakeup, which could come as early as this week, is expected to create a new, more streamlined organizational chart. No major layoffs are planned, according to an executive familiar with the matter.
However, as part of the upcoming reorganization, Bartz, 60, a former CEO of business softwaremaker Autodesk, is expected to replace some Yahoo executives. Who will be leaving, and when, was unclear.
A Yahoo spokesman declined to comment on what he called "rumors and speculation."
On Monday, Neeraj Khemlani, who led Yahoo's news, tech and weather properties, said he would be joining Hearst Corp., owner of The Chronicle, as vice president and special assistant to the chief executive for digital media. He said that his departure was unrelated to any Yahoo reorganization and that Bartz "really understands how to reposition the company, which needs a little bit of help, but has all the core assets that it needs to succeed."
Yahoo's management has undergone a series of upheavals over the past 20 months, including a raft of departures and shifting responsibilities amid a failed $47.5 billion takeover bid by Microsoft Corp. But the changes haven't prompted the turnaround that many investors were hoping for.
Derek Brown, an analyst with Cantor Fitzgerald, said that Yahoo's future success depends on fixing its internal problems. Only then will it be able to tackle the formidable challenge of Google Inc., whose success in search has cemented its position at the top of the Internet food chain.
Brown criticized Bartz's predecessor, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, for failing to make significant changes during his brief 17-month tenure, which started with him promising that there would be no sacred cows. He has higher hopes for Bartz, who he said seems to be more willing to do what's necessary to speed up "decision-making that was significantly slower than the marketplace demanded."
"One thing that seems reassuring on the outside is that you have a relatively new set of eyes assessing the situation more objectively," Brown said.
During her first six weeks on the job, Bartz has voiced thinly veiled criticism of Yahoo's past executives, describing the company "as one with enormous assets that frankly could use a little management." She also said that Yahoo needed fundamental change to speed decision making and to develop a clearer strategy.
Yahoo has steadily lost market share in search to Google, prompting some investors to ask whether Yahoo should get out of the search business and partner with Microsoft instead. The failure to compete has hurt Yahoo particularly hard amid the deteriorating economy because search ads have performed better than other kinds of online advertising, particularly banner ads, a category that Yahoo leads.
The shakeup, which could come as early as this week, is expected to create a new, more streamlined organizational chart. No major layoffs are planned, according to an executive familiar with the matter.
However, as part of the upcoming reorganization, Bartz, 60, a former CEO of business softwaremaker Autodesk, is expected to replace some Yahoo executives. Who will be leaving, and when, was unclear.
A Yahoo spokesman declined to comment on what he called "rumors and speculation."
On Monday, Neeraj Khemlani, who led Yahoo's news, tech and weather properties, said he would be joining Hearst Corp., owner of The Chronicle, as vice president and special assistant to the chief executive for digital media. He said that his departure was unrelated to any Yahoo reorganization and that Bartz "really understands how to reposition the company, which needs a little bit of help, but has all the core assets that it needs to succeed."
Yahoo's management has undergone a series of upheavals over the past 20 months, including a raft of departures and shifting responsibilities amid a failed $47.5 billion takeover bid by Microsoft Corp. But the changes haven't prompted the turnaround that many investors were hoping for.
Derek Brown, an analyst with Cantor Fitzgerald, said that Yahoo's future success depends on fixing its internal problems. Only then will it be able to tackle the formidable challenge of Google Inc., whose success in search has cemented its position at the top of the Internet food chain.
Brown criticized Bartz's predecessor, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, for failing to make significant changes during his brief 17-month tenure, which started with him promising that there would be no sacred cows. He has higher hopes for Bartz, who he said seems to be more willing to do what's necessary to speed up "decision-making that was significantly slower than the marketplace demanded."
"One thing that seems reassuring on the outside is that you have a relatively new set of eyes assessing the situation more objectively," Brown said.
During her first six weeks on the job, Bartz has voiced thinly veiled criticism of Yahoo's past executives, describing the company "as one with enormous assets that frankly could use a little management." She also said that Yahoo needed fundamental change to speed decision making and to develop a clearer strategy.
Yahoo has steadily lost market share in search to Google, prompting some investors to ask whether Yahoo should get out of the search business and partner with Microsoft instead. The failure to compete has hurt Yahoo particularly hard amid the deteriorating economy because search ads have performed better than other kinds of online advertising, particularly banner ads, a category that Yahoo leads.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Obama's antitrust pick: Microsoft 'so last century,' Google troubling
Christine Varney, nominated by President Obama to be the next U.S. antitrust chief, last year singled out Google -- not Microsoft -- as especially worthy of government scrutiny.
"For me, Microsoft is so last century," Varney said at an American Antitrust Institute conference. "They are not the problem."
Wow. Now there's a zinger. The people in Microsoft's legal department are probably loving it. The Windows team? Um, not so much. In any event, that snippet from Bloomberg merely whets the appetite and makes a nerd like me want to read everything Varney said on the subject. So I found the audio file on the AAI site and transcribed the whole passage. Enjoy.
"If any of my colleagues or friends from Google, or who represent Google, are here, I invite you to jump up and scream and yell at me. For me, Microsoft is so last century. They are not the problem. I think we’re going to continually to see a problem, potentially, with Google, who I think so far has acquired a monopoly in Internet online advertising lawfully. I do not think they have done anything other than be a spectacular, innovative company. I’m deeply troubled by their acquisition of DoubleClick, and I’m deeply troubled by their deal with Yahoo. I submit to you that this administration, although they may open a investigation or a review of the Google-Yahoo deal, will do nothing. I think this is a classic area to explore, how do you apply Section 2 in a highly innovative, highly networked, not terribly competitive environment."
As it happens, Varney was wrong in predicting that the Bush administration would let the Google-Yahoo deal go unopposed. Google walked away from the agreement after it became clear that the Justice Department was poised to fight it in court.
But her comments make it pretty clear which company she believes deserves the closer scrutiny nowadays.
Bloomberg quotes a White House spokesman saying that Obama nominated Varney “to vigorously enforce the law” and “is confident that she can do so in a fact-specific and evenhanded way with every matter she will face.”
"For me, Microsoft is so last century," Varney said at an American Antitrust Institute conference. "They are not the problem."
Wow. Now there's a zinger. The people in Microsoft's legal department are probably loving it. The Windows team? Um, not so much. In any event, that snippet from Bloomberg merely whets the appetite and makes a nerd like me want to read everything Varney said on the subject. So I found the audio file on the AAI site and transcribed the whole passage. Enjoy.
"If any of my colleagues or friends from Google, or who represent Google, are here, I invite you to jump up and scream and yell at me. For me, Microsoft is so last century. They are not the problem. I think we’re going to continually to see a problem, potentially, with Google, who I think so far has acquired a monopoly in Internet online advertising lawfully. I do not think they have done anything other than be a spectacular, innovative company. I’m deeply troubled by their acquisition of DoubleClick, and I’m deeply troubled by their deal with Yahoo. I submit to you that this administration, although they may open a investigation or a review of the Google-Yahoo deal, will do nothing. I think this is a classic area to explore, how do you apply Section 2 in a highly innovative, highly networked, not terribly competitive environment."
As it happens, Varney was wrong in predicting that the Bush administration would let the Google-Yahoo deal go unopposed. Google walked away from the agreement after it became clear that the Justice Department was poised to fight it in court.
But her comments make it pretty clear which company she believes deserves the closer scrutiny nowadays.
Bloomberg quotes a White House spokesman saying that Obama nominated Varney “to vigorously enforce the law” and “is confident that she can do so in a fact-specific and evenhanded way with every matter she will face.”
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Yahoo to establish Yahoo Vietnam company
Yahoo! Southeast Asia is going to close its representative office in Hanoi as of February 20 to open a company in Vietnam
The General Director of Yahoo! Southeast Asia office in Vietnam, Vu Minh Tri confirmed this information. Previously, Yahoo! Vietnam made some moves: recognizing four companies – Admax, FPT Online Advertising, GapIT Media JS Company and the Golden Media Group – as its four authorized advertising agents in Vietnam.
Yahoo also Vietnamized its website for Vietnam and some accompanied services. It also combined with some Vietnamese newspapers to upload Vietnamese articles on the www.yahoo.com.vn and joined hands with MobiFone to supply searching services for mobile phone users, named OneSearch.
In January 2009, Yahoo declared to close its Yahoo! Music website in Vietnam to review its music service strategy in the country.
The Yahoo! Southeast Asia representative office in Hanoi was licenced for the first time on August 3, 2007 by the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade. The licence was amended for four times.
The General Director of Yahoo! Southeast Asia office in Vietnam, Vu Minh Tri confirmed this information. Previously, Yahoo! Vietnam made some moves: recognizing four companies – Admax, FPT Online Advertising, GapIT Media JS Company and the Golden Media Group – as its four authorized advertising agents in Vietnam.
Yahoo also Vietnamized its website for Vietnam and some accompanied services. It also combined with some Vietnamese newspapers to upload Vietnamese articles on the www.yahoo.com.vn and joined hands with MobiFone to supply searching services for mobile phone users, named OneSearch.
In January 2009, Yahoo declared to close its Yahoo! Music website in Vietnam to review its music service strategy in the country.
The Yahoo! Southeast Asia representative office in Hanoi was licenced for the first time on August 3, 2007 by the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade. The licence was amended for four times.
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