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In theory, the Yahoo acquisition held a lot of potential for Verizon. In reality, Verizon operationally mismanaged many parts of the business and destroyed mos
by nugget 7y ago
In theory, the Yahoo acquisition held a lot of potential for Verizon. In reality, Verizon operationally mismanaged many parts of the business and destroyed most of the value. Tumblr is one visible example of that. It's unfortunate but not uncommon. Once the deal closes, internal politics rather than common sense and innovation rules and a small handful of bad leaders or a small set of perverse incentives can sink the whole ship.
I view the ability to successfully execute on acquisitions of Yahoo's size as one of the key differentiators between tech giants who will survive into the next generation and those who won't. Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft all have a much better (by no means perfect) track record than the older more traditional businesses trying to catch up to them (telecoms like Verizon included). Telecom is a capital intensive business. Tech is a human capital intensive business. Just one extra word but a big difference.
- basch 7y agoYahoo still has some strong brand recognition in some sectors, and COULD make a massive comeback if Verizon made the right moves. Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, Yahoo Fantasy, Yahoo Email/Messenger. Verizon should release a WhatsApp, FBMessenger, iMessage competitor and let you pick if you want it to be Verizon, Yahoo, or AIM themed. Nostalgia is all the rage. Being able to use AIM (like facebook chat at the bottom of a page) while I browse Yahoo News and Yahoo Finance, and Yahoo Fantasy....
- cortesoft 7y agoThey shut down yahoo messenger a while back
- basch 7y agoIt's a strong brand name. I just advocated bringing it back as a skin for Verizon Messenger.
- Kye 7y agoI hope they sell Yahoo Answers to the McElroy brothers. They're the only people who know what to do with it.
- umeshunni 7y agoNo one outside the US has heard of Verizon and most of the products (whatsapp, messenger) you named have the majority of their users outside the US. Most internet users today have also not heard of or have any nostalgia for Yahoo Messenger or AIM.
- basch 7y agohave most people heard of Verizon OR Yahoo OR AOL or ICQ? They are sitting on a bunch of brand names that DO have some sort of recognition. If facebook can have three separately branded interoperable products, why cant someone else try. They can market the four products to different markets with different aesthetics, and under the hood, its one messenger base. Verizon absolutely has the power to force and plow themselves into the market through sheer will and stubbornness.
- ImprovedSilence 7y agoAIM nostalgia checking in!