Out loud on Yahoo’s mobile strategy: Nokia, Koprol and the World Cup

A lot of other bloggers find it easy to dismiss Yahoo! I have heard people saying that Yahoo! isn’t as important as Google or it doesn’t target consumers and other rubbish.

Right now. If you disagree with my comments above and you are a blogger or techie or industry geek – then; I am afraid your thoughts don’t count.

You are not the Yahoo! target market. Nor, indeed am I. But in all fairness from day I have used the mobile search and other services from all the players (Microsoft, Google and Yahoo!). For me, one thing and one thing only; is that the Yahoo! services are the best.

Using Yahoo! on the iPhone is a dream and also reading gossip such as OMG is simple with a well thought out made for mobile user interface.
But I don’t want to merely blow the Yahoo! trumpet. I want to make some points.

1. Yahoo! and Nokia
OK. Not many people, including myself were orgasmic about the Yahoo! Nokia partnership. But I think that is more because of Nokia than Yahoo! Nokia can learn a lot from Yahoo’s mobile search services and combined promotion and strategy; is a safe move in this economic time.

2. Yahoo! and Koprol
Yahoo is continuing to make some strategic and clever purchases globally. Indonesia is a huge major market and it’s proven that emerging markets are showing higher uptake of mobile services and communities. But with its open platform, Yahoo! is producing a nest egg of talent, creation and entrepreneurs that are taking initial risks for the company. Using open source Yahoo! services to build products and services, get a user base and BANG – Koprol is created on the backbone of Yahoo! and then bought by the company.
Simple.

3. World Cup 2010
Yahoo! is already promoting its mobile sites and services for the World Cup and is always number one on the ball for major competitions. This is vital for its core advertising inventory. Yahoo! will get the clicks and hits and ad revenues it cherishes.

At the end of the day mobile advertising is paramount to Yahoo!
The Yahoo! Nokia deal is about winning more eyeballs. More eyeballs mean more chance of ad click through.

Koprol is a lucrative way into the killer youth mobile market in a major developing country; also increasing ad sales.

The World Cup is the number one sporting event in the world. Yahoo! has already started to hit the sweet spot.