posted on May 28, 2006 09:10:49 AM new
I'm in No. California. I can't access yahoo's email system. I ether can log on and not get any father or can't log on at all.
posted on May 28, 2006 09:14:50 AM newYahoo, eBay form alliance that will challenge Google
By Eric Auchard
SANTA CLARA, May 25 (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc. <YHOO.O> and Web auctioneer eBay Inc. <EBAY.O> formed a U.S. advertising and e-commerce alliance seen as a broad challenge by two of the biggest Internet companies against their main rivals, Google Inc. <GOOG.O> and Microsoft Corp. <MSFT.O>.
While short of a merger, one eBay executive on Thursday said cooperation could deepen over time. The move reflects the growing need for the biggest Internet companies to consolidate in the face of a mounting four-way competition and slowing growth.
EBay shares soared more than 12 percent -- adding more than $5 billion to the company's market capitalization -- and Yahoo stock rose more than 3 percent on news of the deal, which had been expected by some on Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Reuters reported earlier this week.
Yahoo, the world's largest Internet media company, will become the exclusive provider of online banners and other graphic advertising on eBay, and provide some search services within eBay's site to connect buyers to items they seek.
In return, Yahoo will promote PayPal, EBay's popular online payment system used by 73 million U.S. consumers, as a way for Yahoo's hundreds of thousands of affiliated Web sites and small business owners to conduct transactions online.
When asked in an interview whether the alliance could lead to further ties between the two companies, John Donahoe, the president of eBay's marketplaces unit responded: "We will see. We think there is so much opportunity right in front of us. That's where our focus will be in the next six to 12 months."
"It's a huge undertaking in the biggest market for both companies," Yahoo Chairman and CEO Terry Semel told Reuters following the company's annual shareholder meeting. He declined to say whether a comprehensive merger had been discussed.
Executives said the alliance will not have a material impact on 2006 results for either company but could help fuel growth of the respective businesses next year as the ties become embedded in one another's products and services.
The agreed alliance is a response to inroads by Google's popular Web search system in setting the terms of where consumers go to shop, entertain or inform themselves. This competitive dynamic is forcing every major Internet player to consider joining forces instead of trying to go it alone.
EBay and Yahoo officials said the deal builds on cultural similarities that bind two of Silicon Valley's Web pioneers.
The current partnerships are centered on the United States. Depending on how these initiatives work, further relationships could develop internationally, Donahoe said.
In addition to the search and PayPal aspects of the deal, Yahoo Web search features also will be offered through a co-branded version of a browser toolbar for eBay users, and the companies said they would explore developing "click-to-call" Internet advertising that could take advantage of eBay's Skype Web telephone service or Yahoo's own version of Web-calling.
UNCOVERING WAYS TO MAKE MORE MONEY
For Wall Street analysts, the word of the day was "monetization," which Internet industry insiders use as shorthand for finding ways to make more money out of a property or asset, such as placing more ads on a Web page.
"It's a very positive move for both, since eBay gets to monetize its traffic with advertising," Susquehanna analyst Marianne Wolk said. "For Yahoo, it significantly broadens their search" audience, she said.
The pact seeks to make it easier for buyers to search for items for sale on eBay, while being careful not to offend sellers with competing ads. Now, when an eBay customer fails to locate what he or she wants, a Yahoo search ad could appear.
"The very new part is for eBay to really leverage Yahoo advertising onto eBay properties," Donahoe said.
"Clearly Google and Microsoft, I assume, would have liked this business, but Yahoo has more assets to leverage in a partnership with eBay," said Needham & Co analyst Mark May.
Shares of eBay jumped $3.68, or 12.19 percent, to $33.88 on Nasdaq, while Yahoo closed up $1.13, or 3.55 percent, to $32.92, also on Nasdaq.
Shares of Google rose $1.74 or 0.46 percent to $382.99 and Microsoft closed up 24 cents or slightly more than 1 percent at $23.74, both on Nasdaq.
Highlighting the industry's refusal to stand still, Google confirmed that Dell Inc. <DELL.O>, the world's biggest personal computer maker, had formalized a deal with it where Dell will feature links to Google on Web browsers installed on Dell PCs.
EBay depends on paid search advertising to drive bidders to its auctions and sales. Officials say the company bids on up to 15 million keyword search terms at all three of the major Web search advertising suppliers -- Google, Yahoo and Microsoft -- making it one of the world's biggest customers for search ads.
Asked to respond to the Yahoo-eBay deal, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said the Internet industry benefits from a healthy and growing eBay. He said he expected closer ties ahead between the online auctioneer and his own company.
"Our relationship with eBay is only going to get closer over the next year or two," Schmidt predicted during an interview at a Goldman Sachs investor conference in Las Vegas.
posted on May 28, 2006 09:31:10 AM new
I'm not experiencing any problems with Yahoo's mail system here in NY. I've been able to log in, send & receive mail.
posted on May 28, 2006 10:31:25 AM new
OOHHHH this is getting so so frustrating. It's more down than up now. I wish I knew for sure whether it was yahoo's mail or me! Everything else is working except for yahoo mail. Grrrrrrrr
