Yahoo Messenger new plug-ins and Yahoo Finance

Melly Alazraki — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 07:45:00 EST

Filed under: Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Competitive Strategy, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Time Warner (TWX)

After AOL's AIM and eBay's Skype, Yahoo Messenger is the third-most-popular instant communication service and after Microsoft's announcement today of its new instant messenger, it seems Yahoo wants to at least keep its place.

The new versions of Yahoo Messenger that include the new plug-ins are being released in 20 different languages. The new plug-ins will allow users to share different Yahoo services such as calendar and maps for event planning for example. Third party plug-ins such as the Amazon plug-in would let users see each other's Amazon wish-list and the eBay plug-in can assist in tracking live auctions and listings.

Without a doubt, these third-party plug-ins give Yahoo a definite competitive advantage.

Still in good news territory, Yahoo kept its position at the top of the personal finance space with 34.9% of the market share according to Hitwise, an online competitive intelligence service. Microsoft's MSN Money was second with 13.67% share and Time Warner's CNN Money, 4.5%. MarketWatch was a distant fourth and Google Finance accounted for only 0.28%.

Microsoft, in addition to the MSN brand, integrated the content of CNBC into MSN Money while Time Warner benefits from the CNN brand, as well as its magazines. Google Finance was only released in March, but it seems it doesn't come close to Yahoo Finance and the features it offers. Yahoo Finance aggregates content and up-to-the-minute information from third-party providers. At least in Yahoo Finance, it seems Google isn't a serious threat.

Yahoo Messenger new plug-ins and Yahoo Finance originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft after the bell 06-19-06: messenger upgrade, everybody loves Ray

Sarah Gilbert — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 18:48:00 EST

Filed under: After the Bell, Products and Services, Launches, Management, Microsoft (MSFT)

Evidently, investors were feeling good about Microsoft's future today, after concerns late last week. Maybe it was the new version of Messenger released today. Maybe it was general warm-and-fuzzies over the prospects of leaders like Ray Ozzie, who will inherit much of Bill Gates' technology leadership (and, if Ray's listening to Steve Gillmor's advice, he will "seize control of the company alongside Steve Ballmer, not as a greater of equals with Craig Mundie"). Either way the stock was up over 2%, or 45 cents, to $22.55.

MSN Messenger has been renamed along with so many other properties under the "MSN" moniker, to "Windows Live Messenger." While I don't love this focus on the "live"-ness of everything Microsoft (as opposed to the dead messenger? We all know that instant messenger programs do get people in the flesh, it seems so redundant to have to mention that), people seem excited about the new product.

Oddly, though, the "live" debut seems to have hit a snafu ... users are reporting a "coming soon" page where the press release points to a download.

Microsoft after the bell 06-19-06: messenger upgrade, everybody loves Ray originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments