Yahoo focuses on iPhone app, drops Blackberry
updated 10:15 pm EDT, Mon May 18, 2009
Yahoo focuses on iPhone
Yahoo has announced it will be abandoning its mobile application development for the Blackberry on May 20th. The company plans to focus on the development of its iPhone application, says TechCrunch. Yahoo Mobile was updated for the iPhone in April, combining features such as email, mobile search, IM, social messaging streams, and personalized Yahoo content such as news, sports, stocks, and RSS feeds.
TechCruch suggests standardizing the mobile browser platform makes economic sense. However, Yahoo has stated that it will develop applications for other platforms once there is higher demand.
Reasons for the end of development could also be, as Adam Taggart, head of Yahoo Mobile product marketing suggests, "you can always do more with an app on your phone." He also suggests the Blackberry and smartphone apps were created to cater to consumers with "iPhone envy".
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Dec 2002
Surprise
Yahoo has always, at least to me, been a lukewarm with its Apple interface. The IM is a basic form compared to the bells and whistles of the Windows version, the email web interface has lagged in interface and Yahoo in general doesn't seem to be about style and innovation like Apple. Does Blackberry development really suck up that many resources? Not that I would ever own a BB, but that seems a bit final for a product that has made a name for itself in the industry to just abandon like that.