Yahoo goes all iPhone, ceases BlackBerry development

By Hercules Kataveli, B2P
Published on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 4:21 pm ET
Updated 05-2-10, 8:22 pm ET

Update: Yahoo will NOT cease BlackBerry (and other mobile platform development). Yahoo! remains committed to improving Yahoo! Mobile for web and their existing cross-platform applications, as well as developing new and engaging experiences for consumers across various devices and platforms, including RIM, Apple, Widows Mobile, Nokia and more.

Yahoo will completely stop (now confirmed) developing its mobile application for the BlackBerry platform to focus its efforts solely towards the iPhone.

According to developer job applicants for Yahoo’s Mobile BlackBerry team, the applicants
received a reply from Yahoo that read, “Yahoo has decided to cease development [on the BlackBerry platform]”

Yahoo will now only continue to build the exclusive app for the iPhone, and simply continue to maintain the existing mobile browser based site. The company aims at bringing the app experiences straight to the mobile browser (remains to be seen). Yahoo Mobile chief executive Adam Taggart previously said “you can always do more with an app on your phone,” but maintained the company remains committed to both apps and the browser.

 The current Yahoo Mobile application for the iPhone offers location-based search, social networking features including access to Facebook and Twitter, customized news, access to Yahoo mail, an RSS reader, among other features.

The current Yahoo Mobile app ranks number 80 on the App Store’s Top 100 free applications list.

In related news, according to a study from O’Reilley Research, the App Store seems to have earned Apple between only $20-$45 million in revenue. Apple maintains the App Store is not supposed to be a primary revenue stream for the company, but rather an instrument to add value to its products to help drive sales.

It is unclear why Yahoo would cease development for the BlackBerry. Most recently, in Q1 2009, the BlackBerry platform was the top selling mobile, beating out the iPhone for the top spot. However, in all fairness, it is possible this was because people delayed purchasing the iPhone while anticipating the next generation which is rumored to launch this summer.

According to newly published research from Gartner, the iPhone has doubled in sales in Q1 2009 YoY.

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Hercules holds a B.Comm Finance from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) level 3 candidate. He was previously a contributor at FiLife, a finance website owned by Dow Jones and IAC. Write to [email protected]
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  • http://elitemobilegames.com/ IwantaiPhone

    Of course just look at all of the apps in the app store http://appstoreicons.com and it is no wonder that Yahoo has switched.

  • http://elitemobilegames.com/ IwantaiPhone

    Of course just look at all of the apps in the app store http://appstoreicons.com and it is no wonder that Yahoo has switched.

  • http://elitemobilegames.com/ IwantaiPhone

    Of course just look at all of the apps in the app store http://appstoreicons.com and it is no wonder that Yahoo has switched.

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