Sunnyvale, California — Earlier this month internet pioneer Yahoo appointed Scott Thompson as new CEO, who now seems to radically change its business structure. And one of the first changes the company appears to be counterintuitively, decommissioning 10 of its mobile applications, most optimized for Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android and BlackBerry platforms to make way for new things.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based search company mentions that its decision was a response to the rapidly changing mobile market, and that while it is leaving these apps behind for greener pastures, it still has a suite of other apps available for mobile devices, and that it will continue to develop new apps for mobile users.
Yahoo Meme for iPhone has been discontinued. (Credit: Yahoo)
Yahoo states it plans to follow a “mobile first” approach moving forward and will introduce a series of new mobile applications during 2012, especially in areas that ripe for innovation and build on Yahoo’s strengths, such as companion experiences for TV like IntoNow, new ways to experience personalized media like Livestand, and some of our most popular and useful mobile apps like Yahoo! Mail, Messenger, Sportacular and Flickr, which are already being adopted by millions of people around the world. And we will be building these experiences with disruptive technology that is going to change the mobile game well beyond Yahoo.
Recently, Yahoo has already disclosed its first venture into original scripted programming, teaming with Tom Hanks’ Playtone production company and multimedia firm Reliance Entertainment to launch the multi-platform animated series Electric City. The series will premiere later this year.
For Yahoo, going “mobile first” indicates killing off the following ten apps for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry:
The apps that are getting the axed are:
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Yahoo Meme (iPad and iPhone)
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Yahoo Mim (iPad)
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Yahoo Answers (Android)
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Yahoo AppSpot (Android and iPhone)
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Yahoo Deals (iPhone)
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Yahoo Finance (BlackBerry)
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Yahoo Movies (Android)
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Yahoo News (Android)
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Yahoo Shopping (iPhone)
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Yahoo Sketch-a-Search (iPad and iPhone)
The company says that it is dispatching notifications to users stating it will no longer support the apps listed, adding it will integrate key features of solutions like AppSpot and Sketch-a-Search into its Yahoo Search app.
“Our plan is to keep moving, to keep innovating, and to constantly measure and guage what is working and what is not — so we can make room for great new products,” said the Yahoo Mobile team in a blog post.
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Also, it is worth noting that some features of some of the apps that are going away are being integrated into other Yahoo experiences. Features from AppSpot and Sketch-A-Search, for example, are being integrated into the Yahoo Search App. ‘We are deeply focusing on creating personal digital experiences and there is no doubt that one of the biggest, if not the biggest, priorities for us is to bring those products and ideas to the mobile user,’ Yahoo wrote in the company’s mobile blog.
However, the internet company has been going through a most difficult period over the past several months. Since sacking its then-CEO Carol Bartz in September, the company’s board has been the major target for buyout and investment bids from a host of companies. Earlier this month, Yahoo finally appointed new CEO Scott Thompson. Now, it is believed Yahoo is trying to unload its Asian assets to raise cash and turn away would-be investors.
As for now, Yahoo is discontinuing support for the apps, although current users will apparently be able to continue to use the apps for an indeterminate period. It looks like the company is cleaning house with its new CEO on board.