4 ms·
I don't think yahoo was ever really an 'it' company...they were (maybe) an 'it stock', but that's a who nother ball of wax. At the company level, in terms of ha
by 001sky 12y ago
I don't think yahoo was ever really an 'it' company...they were (maybe) an 'it stock', but that's a who nother ball of wax. At the company level, in terms of having a "category killer" product, they never had one.
In order for Yahoo to ever right the ship, that is what they need. They need to become indispensible for either offering something unqiue or something of unqiue value.
Their investment in alibaba was close to that...both unique to investors and great value...where else could you a private equity stake in a huge chineese start-up?
The issue there was the "killer product" was a specialized financial asset with a finite life. This is distinct from something with an evergreen consumer service or product that will be monetizable over the long run.
The task for the CEO is can take the capirtal on hand and start building good (evergreen) products?
If nothing else she should be given (retain) some capital and another 3 years before making a final judgement. At that stage, take a look at the pipleline and if there is nothing in it...that will be a signal.
Yahoo right now is like a pharma company which had a blockbuster come off of patent...its all about the ability to re-plenish the pipeline...the profits that happened previously are nearly irrelevant except for providing the position/capital to recruit people for the next round of product development.
- JamesSwift 12y agoI think yahoo's 'it product' has been their fantasy football offering. It has been the crowd favorite for many years, and neglected for a majority of that.
- dykesa 12y agoI would have agreed until this last round of "we changed it, you'll like it, and we won't change it back" has my group looking for a different league host for the first time.
- FeeTinesAMady 12y agoWhat did they change, if you don't mind my asking? I've been using it for two seasons now, and haven't noticed anything too annoying, although I have been in public leagues only so far.
- edwinnathaniel 12y agoDoes a "media" company ever had an "it" (killer-product/cash cow) long-term product? Yahoo! is not a software company (yet). Comparing Yahoo! against Google, Microsoft, or Apple seems like comparing NBC/ABC/Fox againt those 3 no/
- mathattack 12y agoIt used to be a software company - it was Google before Google. I think the media distinction is a little false. Several media companies have had long term products: The Big 3 networks pre-cable, HBO, Dreamworks...
- 001sky 12y agoThey own (scarce) rights to broad-band spectrum.
- callahad 12y ago> At the company level, in terms of having a "category killer" product, they never had one. Yahoo's Directory and Search offerings were category-defining once upon a time, weren't they?
- slurry 12y agoDirectory yes, search no.
- foolfoolz 12y agouhhh.. yahoo mail? for a while years ahead of the competition and even today still one of the best mail services around
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]