During the last Yahoo! earnings call, the company revealed that it was going to discontinue or consolidate a number of products across Yahoo!’s technology platforms during the course of 2012.
Unfortunately for some, one of those services to be closed down is the Yahoo! Livestand iOS news application. Yahoo! say they are moving to a more mobile-products-first development model, which follows on from the recent launch of Yahoo!’s Axis browser plug-in.
The Rise and Fall of Yahoo! Livestand
Unfortunately, the Livestand Yahoo! application, which was designed to help users create their own digital magazines within Livestand, never took hold with users, and now faces the chop from Yahoo!’s products and services. Yahoo! explains:
“While we received great feedback on Livestand’s design and it earned a 4-star rating in the App Store, we committed ourselves to continuously measure and scrutinize what’s working and what isn’t. We have learned a lot from Livestand and are actively applying those insights toward the development of future products that are better aligned with Yahoo!’s holistic mobile strategy.”
Yahoo! Livestand was initially launched with high hopes and significant fanfare. The application aimed to revolutionize the way users consumed news by allowing them to create personalized digital magazines. Despite its innovative design and positive reception in terms of user interface, it struggled to gain a substantial user base. The competitive landscape of digital news platforms, including giants like Flipboard and Apple News, made it difficult for Livestand to carve out a significant market share.
Yahoo!’s Shift to Mobile-First Strategy
The decision to discontinue Livestand is part of Yahoo!’s broader strategy to focus on mobile-first products. This shift is evident in their recent launch of the Yahoo! Axis browser plug-in, which aims to enhance the mobile browsing experience. By concentrating on mobile products, Yahoo! hopes to better align with current user behaviors and preferences, which increasingly favor mobile devices over desktop computers.
Yahoo!’s move towards a mobile-first strategy is not unique. Many tech companies are recognizing the importance of mobile platforms as the primary means through which users access digital content. This shift is driven by the rapid adoption of smartphones and tablets, which offer convenience and accessibility that traditional desktop computers cannot match. By focusing on mobile-first development, Yahoo! aims to stay relevant in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
The discontinuation of Livestand also reflects Yahoo!’s commitment to refining its product offerings. By analyzing user feedback and performance metrics, Yahoo! can identify which products are successful and which are not meeting expectations. This data-driven approach allows the company to allocate resources more effectively and develop products that better meet the needs of their users.
More information about the announcement can be found over on the Yahoo! blog post/press release.
In conclusion, while the discontinuation of Yahoo! Livestand may disappoint some users, it represents a strategic move by Yahoo! to focus on mobile-first products. By learning from the shortcomings of Livestand and applying those insights to future developments, Yahoo! aims to create more successful and user-friendly mobile applications. The company’s commitment to innovation and adaptability will be crucial as it navigates the competitive and rapidly changing tech industry.
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