Los Angeles— Now that frontfacing cameras are becoming commonplace on smartphones, competing web outfit Yahoo has launched an updated version of Yahoo Mail Android app to all users of devices running under Google’s mobile operating system that includes, among other things, support for multiple accounts, photo browsing, and contact sync, complemented by the availability of Yahoo! Messenger mobile for these devices with video chatting capabilities.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.based company already delivered the Yahoo! Mail Android app available for these smartphones, but no Yahoo! Messenger was there, although users of other mobile devices already had the chance to enjoy the service. The first version of the app was rolled out at the end of June along with a separate Yahoo Messenger app. This update bundles some new features, including the ability to multiple Yahoo Mail accounts within the app, browse photos, sync contacts, and chat with friends.
“We have been pleased with the success of both Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Messenger on the Android platform, but of course we never stop looking for ways to make the apps even better,” Yahoo Mail product manager Lee Parry said Tuesday in a blog post. “To that end, we have been reviewing all your suggestions, and polishing the app, leading up to today’s launch of the new Yahoo mail app in the Android Market.”
Moreover, moving forward, each of the new software solutions comes with a nice range of new features, so as to offer a great experience to all users.
Starting with the Yahoo! Mail for Android application, we should note that the solution now offers support for multiple Yahoo! accounts, as well as the possibility to view all the received and sent photos in a gallery view, and more. If Yahoo Messenger is installed on your device, meanwhile, it will work in tandem with the Yahoo Mail app. Users can see when their messenger contacts are online from the mail app, view their details, and start IM conversations and video calls. The update also allows users to sync the contacts on their phone with their mail contacts “with ease,” Parry said.
The features list of the new app version includes:
- Multiple Accounts: Probably the biggest request we had from users was for the ability to add multiple Yahoo! Mail accounts. Well we heard you loud and clear! You can now add accounts and swap seamlessly between them.
- Photo Browsing: If you’ve used our mobile Web HTML5 site for iOS devices you’ll be familiar with our photo features. When you receive an email with photo attachments we give you a fast preview, right in the inbox.
- Mail, IM and Video: When you install Yahoo! Messenger on your device, you’ll be able to see the online presence of your contacts from within Mail. With one tap of a contact you can trigger a new message, view contact details, start an IM, and even begin a video call without ever leaving Yahoo! Mail.
- Contact Sync: You can now access your Yahoo! Contacts from your device contacts app with ease, wherever you are in the operating system.
Furthermore, the newly announced Yahoo! Messenger for Android solution, it provides users with the possibility to start video calling, to share video and photos, sync contacts and, of course, chat with their contacts.
In order to make video calls on Android you will need Android 2.2 and up. The video feature is still in beta, and requires a Yahoo Messenger Video addon. The feature officially supports the HTC Evo and myTouch 4G phones with frontfacing cameras. With Yahoo! Messenger, users will be able to start a video call on their PC and continue it on Android, iPhone, or any Internetenabled device.
If you are an Yahoo addict and your apps have been feeling like they are just aging on your phone, go ahead and grab the updates now. The two applications were made available for download for Android handsets via the Android Market.