Yahoo expected to launch messaging app at New York City press event
Yahoo is planning to hold a mid-week press event in New York City, where it will probably announce a new messaging app, according to claims made on Tuesday.
The company is at least intending to show off a new consumer product, sources told Re/code. At first the same people added only that it would have a mobile focus, but Re/code reporter Kara Swisher later mentioned the messaging connection on Twitter.
Since 2012, current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been trying to overhaul and revitalize the company, which by her arrival had become stagnant in its advertising and content businesses. In 2013 for instance Mayer orchestrated the acquisition of blog service Tumblr, in a deal worth $1.1 billion.
The launch of a mobile-oriented messaging app could put Yahoo in direct competition with Facebook Messenger, which is available across iOS, Android, Windows, and the Web. Facebook is actively trying to turn Messenger into a platform with things like a third-party API and even shopping and money transfer functions.
A Yahoo app would presumably launch first on iOS and/or Android, the two most popular mobile platforms. Facebook typically prefers introducing apps on iOS and then migrating to Android.
Yahoo still offers Yahoo Messenger for both desktop and mobile, but the platform has become marginal as alternatives like Facebook, WhatsApp, iMessage, Skype, and Hangouts have taken hold.
The company is at least intending to show off a new consumer product, sources told Re/code. At first the same people added only that it would have a mobile focus, but Re/code reporter Kara Swisher later mentioned the messaging connection on Twitter.
Since 2012, current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been trying to overhaul and revitalize the company, which by her arrival had become stagnant in its advertising and content businesses. In 2013 for instance Mayer orchestrated the acquisition of blog service Tumblr, in a deal worth $1.1 billion.
The launch of a mobile-oriented messaging app could put Yahoo in direct competition with Facebook Messenger, which is available across iOS, Android, Windows, and the Web. Facebook is actively trying to turn Messenger into a platform with things like a third-party API and even shopping and money transfer functions.
A Yahoo app would presumably launch first on iOS and/or Android, the two most popular mobile platforms. Facebook typically prefers introducing apps on iOS and then migrating to Android.
Yahoo still offers Yahoo Messenger for both desktop and mobile, but the platform has become marginal as alternatives like Facebook, WhatsApp, iMessage, Skype, and Hangouts have taken hold.
Comments
WHY?
Anyone who would use this is already on Facebook or iMessage-but I guess yahoo had to do something.
WHY?
Ditto.
Guaranteed to be as crap as everything else they do.
I use a Yahoo mail account for spam mail. Such a shockingly bad UI, it's not even worthy of my spam. I would say it's up there in the worst UI's of all time list.
Oh and the Yahoo iOS mail app, I don't think it's ever worked for me. Two clicks (if I'm lucky) and it crashes, or doesn't let me sign in for some stupid reason.
This is DOA unless Yahoo releases something that is far superior to iMessage/Google Hangouts/whatsapp
What? I thought they already had a messaging app?
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Mayer probably should have done this when she first took over. I last used Yahoo messenger about a decade ago and just got fed up with it. Features were always behind on the Mac and the damn thing was laggy or crashed constantly.
Yes, they already have Messenger, and a desktop client to go with it. Or, I could just add my Yahoo! account to Messages on my Mac (as you can with your Google, AOL/Aim account, etc). Or on mobile, I can add it to any number of platform-agnostic messaging apps that behave the same way (though in my experience, the ones I've tried suck pretty badly). The difference is that NOW they're adding their own 1st party mobile client? That's the news? This warrants a press event?
They better have a couple great features. Otherwise, it'll be a dud. I have absolutely no confidence in Yahoo.
I'm sure they'll extend it with animated GIF support, short video streams, hooks into other photo app products like Flickr, etc.
Frankly, I'm surprised Yahoo is still alive. Sure they make millions with click views and advertising, but from a brand perspective, they are no longer viewed as innovators or leaders in anything.
On the edge of my seat. Yahoo messenger? Talk about a throwback to the early 2000's for me. That would be like AOL having a press release for AIM. Btw is AIM still a thing?
Apple was almost late to the game with iMessage, but Apple at least has the OS and the Hardware to throw it onto millions of devices. Yahoo has what? I don't even think BBM has really gone anywhere after it launch and there's no way Yahoo could ever compete with that let alone all the others that have been around for years. People get stuck in their habits and trying to get someone to switch after that isn't easy!!!!
Some show BBM still very popular as well as WhatsApp or FB Messenger not even listed.
Apple was very late and iMessage had a lot of growing pains to contend with, which probably was more difficult for Apple due to it's extreme rate of growth since first being released, but it's the primary service I utilize. In fact, I think it's been a couple years now since I got rid of Adium and all my IM clients because I now only need iMessage (with any stragglers using email).