Yahoo! unveils Modular Go 3.0 Beta at the 2008 International CES in a bid to counter Google

Thilak — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:37:45 +0000

A few months ago Google unveiled its Android open operating system for cellular phones. There were speculations back then that it was Google’s way to show a measure of disparity between the company and Yahoo!, one of its biggest rivals to date. And many were expecting a similar move from Yahoo!, whose reformation strategy till that point revolved around paring its failing entertainment ventures, and analyzing its search, responsive content, and advertising platform. Yahoo! needed to present the mobile part of its platform in order to equalize its standing, counter Google’s attack, and most importantly, as a kind of open service unto itself.

Guess what? All those prayers were answered finally yesterday when Yahoo! co-founder and CEO Jerry Yang showed off the latest version of its Yahoo! Go 3.0 beta mobile platform at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is underway in Las Vegas.

Yahoo! Go is essentially a solution for anyone with a mobile phone. It’s an all-in-one offering, letting you enjoy the best of the web on your phone. And did I mention for free. Using the Yahoo! Go, you will be able to send an email, upload photos, download maps, search for answers, check stock quotes, or get breaking news.

With this launch, Yahoo! intends to market Go as an open platform for third party widget developers and unlike Google’s Android operating environment, the Yahoo! Go platform will work on over 250 mobile devices that Go already works on. The inclusion of the Mobile Widget Platform will render access to third-party widgets on the Yahoo! Go and Yahoo! Mobile pages.

Yahoo! Go also features an intuitive User Interface, optimized for the mobile device. The home page is customizable, and includes a new email at a glance, messenger, Flickr, news, calendar, weather, finance, sports, entertainment, and so on.

Consumers in the U.S. will be able to download Yahoo! Go 3.0 on over 30 mobile devices from major manufacturers worldwide and use it on most wireless networks. Yahoo! promises that over the coming months it will make Yahoo! Go 3.0 available on hundreds of devices worldwide, accessible to millions of users.

Marco Boerries, executive vice president, Connected Life, Yahoo!, said in a statement,“Today’s launch of Yahoo! Go 3.0 is a game-changing mobile development from Yahoo!. This new open environment provides consumers with a highly-compelling user experience and robust, personalized starting point to the mobile Internet. We are providing users with increased control over their experiences as well as increased choice in getting the content and services they want while on the go.”

“With our innovative mobile services like Yahoo! Go 3.0 and deep partnerships across the industry, we are focused on making the promise of the mobile Internet a reality for consumers around the world,” he added.

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Tete-a-tete with Bill Gates at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas

Thilak — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:18:46 +0000

Want to know about Bill Gates, the person? Well, here’s how.

The head honcho of Microsoft has invited readers of the BBC News website to send him questions about his life and career. This invitation has been extended to readers from all over the world, and the timing could not have been more apt.

Gates delivered the opening keynote (his last) at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) yesterday at the Palazzo Ballroom, The Venetian, Las Vegas.

2008 International CES, the largest annual consumer technology show in the world, is underway at Las Vegas from January 7 to January 10, 2008.

Last year, Gates enthralled more than 4,000 attendees with his tenth keynote appearance. He shared how the company is delivering on the promise of the “Connected Experience.”

Incidentally, Gates is gearing up to end his day-to-day involvement with Microsoft, one of the largest and most powerful software companies in the world. He will, however, continue to remain the chairman of Microsoft, advising on the company’s key development projects.

According to the Time magazine, Gates has remained one of the 100 people who most influenced the 20th century, as well as one of the 100 most influential people of 2004, 2005, and 2006. As he readies to change his role, you can send him questions on his life and career here.

The fun doesn’t necessarily end at this. BBC will choose a selection of the best questions, and post the answers straight from the horse’s mouth on their website. The same will also be broadcasted on BBC News.

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TechBuzz » 2008 International CES

Yahoo! unveils Modular Go 3.0 Beta at the 2008 International CES in a bid to counter Google

Tete-a-tete with Bill Gates at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas