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Most of us who thronged cyber cafes in the late 1990s and a little into 2000s for surfing the internet, checking emails, night-long chats and online dating (only for some truly lucky souls, though) can never forget the initiation into the World Wide Web, thanks to Yahoo.
Yahoo Mail and Messenger were once the gospel for all – be it teenagers, parents, or teachers. Social media was yet to penetrate into our lives and the Yahoo portal alone – once valued at $125 billion during the peak of the dot com revolution – brought us into a world we still cherish with much nostalgia.
That US wireless communications service provider Verizon bought Yahoo’s tottering internet business for a mere $4.8 billion definitely signals an end of an era. But is the move a little sunshine in the cloud for Yahoo?
However, according to experts, the viable option for Verizon is now to marry online Yahoo assets with AOL, which it acquired last year for $4.4 billion.
Combining these operations, and its own operations, may make Verizon stand next to internet behemoths like Google and Facebook.
According to Kawoosa, another challenge now is that with Verizon’s acquisition, Yahoo becomes strong but only to a specific geography. He is not sure how it is going to complement Yahoo’s global image.
Verizon’s main centre in Chennai and offices in Hyderabad and Bengaluru work towards providing voice and wireless communication solutions, data and the like. Yahoo’s downsized Bengaluru centre looks after its websites and digital ad platforms. There is no research and development work happening now.
With the Verizon deal, the once-great Yahoo has a revival chance but for Kawoosa, “one can only offer services and can’t force users to make it their preferred choice,” especially at a time when internet usage is going through a massive churning and the spurt of smartphones and social media has changed the online habits of people.
The world is interested too as Verizon has some really long distance to cover.
( This article has been published in arrangement with IANS.)
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