Yahoo is embracing Web 2.0 strategies because it's seen the fantastic growth of MySpace.com - and finds it threatening, according to John Bray, an analyst with PhoCusWright. In a note for clients he pointed out Yahoo is using as much technology as it can to make its services newly compelling. This includes the about-to-go-live Outlook look-a-like e-mail service.
Yahoo is "clearly seeing the trajectory of page views at MySpace in their rear-view mirror," Bray wrote. Then he added: "When school starts in fall 2006, MySpace will be the #1 most visited site on the Web."
Yahoo's freshening of its travel options is an example of the company's drive to revamp and integrate its services. Travelers can type ''compare Las Vegas hotels'' in Yahoo Search and see the best hotel prices within the results. Clicking on prices takes you to FareChase, with the hotels plotted on a dynamic satellite/street level map. You can also read other travelers' comments and, in a nod to the 'social-networking' mania, you can review other people's "Trip Plans".
Newscorp is not new to innovation and leadership online. Back in the mid 90's Newscorp had a joint venture to launch a service called iguide with MCI. Newscorp was to supply the technical muscle and use MCI's access to millions of it's subs. From what I hear, a service that would have given AOL a real run for it's money. At the 11th hour MCI pulled the plug. I joined the remnants of that Newscorp business reinvented as News Internet Services. It's mission was to support NewsCorp's online media businesses. Notably the Fox online properties (FoxNews, Foxsports, TvGuide) and other non-Newscorp businesses, including the Major League Baseball and the National Hockey league sites.
Newscorp was a real innovator and established a number of firsts. The first to offer realtime stock quotes, and the first to stream television over the web (Foxnews channel). They also started and later handed off a British online service known as LineOne, sort of an AOL in the UK. The mistake made was to close News Internet down at a time when they could have pursued and won new business and ultimately taken the company public toward the late 90's.
Posted by: Doug Lindsay | Apr 23, 2006 at 20:43