Speaking of social networking websites…
On Friday, Associated Press reported that Yahoo! plans to launch its own social network before the end of 2008. No official release date has been set, but the company seems hard at work to regain some footage in the search field, and perhaps some of the revenue lost in the past stagnant months.
Reportedly looking to “transform into a social hub,” Yahoo! hopes to host a plethora of widgets (online applications as seen on Facebook), in order to attract new users, retain current members, and stimulate revenue via online advertising.
Yahoo's chief technology officer, Ari Balogh, contends that in time, Yahoo!’s estimated 500 million users will be able to benefit from the enhancements in numerous ways; chief among them, increased customization options for their own web pages.
Another benefit Yahoo! is hoping to introduce is “easier [to connect] with friends and family through its Web site.” This is a concept we’ve seen before with Facebook’s semi-invasive Mini-Feed stories.
Yahoo!’s version is said to focus on contacts and messages. For example, the feature would “highlight messages from e-mail users' most frequent connections” and “track the activities and opinions of online buddies.” No specific details of what the “tracking” will entail… online purchases, perhaps? That’s certainly been a hot topic of discussion with Facebook, lately.
Quite wisely, AP stated that if Yahoo is bought out by Microsoft, pending plans for a social network are likely to change… I guess the only thing to do it wait and see.