On March 4th local time, Reuters published an article by Georgina Prodhan. The article stated that Yahoo! was still trying to avoid the fate of being acquired by Microsoft for $42 billion. Yahoo! announced the launch of a bookmarking tool that allows users to track their favorite web topics on their mobile phones in real-time.
Yahoo! plans to release the OnePlace program in the second quarter of this year, which will allow users to tag links, news, or search results and update topics of interest instantly when clicked.
Bookmark tools are not new; Yahoo!'s own "Delicious" website is one example. However, Yahoo! stated that due to the smaller screens of mobile phones, different methods are required, with greater emphasis on sharing.
Yahoo! is trying to catch up with Google's clear advantage in computer searches and advertising. Google has achieved its advantage by providing customized services for mobile users and forming alliances with telecom operators.
The OnePlace program relies on two other Yahoo! services - OneSearch and OneConnect. It uses bookmarks to customize content and matches it with the user's address and the addresses of friends who visit using this service.
Marco Boerries, head of Yahoo!'s mobile business, said, "We are not redeveloping the format of mobile content or entering the content business, but there are always places and things you care about, are passionate about, and want to keep updated on. Whether it's Facebook or YouTube... all these places will be locked into your computer."
Users will be able to collect their favorite web pages via their computers or mobile phones, even directly through their mobile phones, or sync with their computers. OneSearch will provide search results, and actual information rather than web links will appear on the phone, arranged according to user preferences.
Boerries said, for instance, flight information, news about users' favorite bands or sports teams, local weather forecasts, or restaurant updates that users wish to be updated on.
Boerries said that consumers can obtain this service either by downloading it from mobile carriers such as Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Vodafone that partner with Yahoo!, or directly from the Yahoo! website. "These are not web links you can open, but small bookmarks that provide you with timely information."
He added, "OnePlace can provide 52 types of content," such as videos, cities, musicians, albums, stock prices, etc. "We use application rules to classify information, ensuring that classification best fits its characteristics."
Users can also categorize their bookmarks based on local habits or their friends' preferences.