Yahoo paves the mobile apps way

Global - Yahoo has launched an open mobile developer platform which will allow developers to create applications that work across all mobile phone models - it currently works across more than 300 models on Yahoo Go 2.0.

Current mobile operation systems, which support WIFI and internet surfing, such as the Symbian, Palm, Iphone and eventually on Android by Google when it launches, can run on the Yahoo mobile platform so long as the Yahoo Go 3.0 client is installed into the handset.

At the recent launch at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Yahoo unveiled its first third party partners including Ebay, MySpace and MTV and is expecting thousands of new mobile widgets to be added as developers begin writing to this new platform.

"By providing all developers access to our Mobile Widget Platform and giving them the necessary tools to create, we are setting the stage for growth in the number of third party widgets and creating an innovative new experience that we believe will ultimately drive further adoption of mobile services," Marco Boerries, EVP of Connected Life, Yahoo, said.

LG Electronics and Motorola are currently collaborating with Yahoo to make the mobile widgets available on its devices. Access, mobile software technology provider, is also in early discussions to support the platform.

Just one week into the launch Yahoo has posted on its website the first specifications for widgets and will soon introduce a full-featured software development kit for developers, with guidelines and tools for creating, testing and submitting widgets.

In other Yahoo news, there has been speculations on staff layoffs and the company has issued a non-committal statement saying: "Yahoo has embarked on a multi-year transformation that includes making tough decisions about the business to help the company grow. Yahoo! has focused its efforts to support its strategy to become the indispensable starting point for consumers, advertisers, publishers and developers. Yahoo plans to invest in some areas, reduce emphasis in others, and eliminate some areas of the business that don't support the company's priorities. Yahoo continues to attract and hire talent against the company's key initiatives to create long-term stockholder value."

At press time it is unclear if Singapore will be affected by the layoffs.