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Thanks for sharing.
If they don't want to do that, they could go with AlltheWeb, but maybe they're afraid of creating another Googlesque situation. One thing you can say for Inktomi, since they don't run their own branded search engine, Yahoo won't be supporting a competitor.
Yahoo is said to be seriously considering switching its Web search to Inktomi
This is great news ! :)
It's the first time in about 5 months that we read something that can give a good clue of who will be on Y! :)
"Yahoo is said to be..."
"And industry executives say..."
How convenient that all this is totally non-attributable. It's just old fashioned spin.
Weighing the little evidence that we actually have, Google must still be favorite to keep the contract.
Yahoo is said to be seriously considering switching its Web search to Inktomi, a Google rival that does not run its own Web site.
"Yahoo is said to be seriously considering switching," I'd say, is closer to "there's a rumor that they're thinking about it" than to "Yahoo will probably switch."
By the way, if Inktomi "does not run its own Web site" what's that site at www.inktomi.com? Not exactly the most accurate writing or editing.
I hope they do not switch from G. It would definately cost me traffic.
If Google REALLY wanted to damage Yahoo and take its turf, there would be another tab on offer on the Google Home Page. Under that tab would be email services, etal... all the stuff that Yahoo is attempting to make money out of. The 'Google Portal' could emerge rather quickly if Google wanted it to, and that would be VERY serious news for Yahoo.
Yahoo's best defense? Sign up Google and prohibit this in the contract by delineating and defining boundaries.
That's the sensible decision (IMHO).... deal with the world as it is today... they can't put Google back in the box they released it from yesterday.
The 'Google Portal' could emerge rather quickly if Google wanted it to, and that would be VERY serious news for Yahoo.
It would also ruin the foundation and philosophy that has had such a huge influence in Google’s rise to stardom. If Google emphasizes anything but search, it's experienced user base would be more acceptable to a new search engine that doesn’t.
On a purely selfish level, I would be privately popping champaign bottles if this happened. I for one am sick of my livelihood depending so strongly on the actions of Google.
It only makes sense for Yahoo to dump Google, they are competitors.
>>depending so strongly on the actions of Google
bingo, and remember,
the bigger they are the harder they fall.
One thing I can say. My SERPs on main keywords are pretty good on both Google/Yahoo/AOL and MSN, which uses Inktomi. In fact, even *better* on Inktomi driven engines. Assuming my users are typical of people using search engines (they may not be), I am seeing Google way out front, Yahoo a fairly respectable second, and AOL and MSN a notable, but much lower third and fourth. All the rest of the search engines get minimal traffic, even though I tend to have decent SERPs on these keywords with them too. Based on this, if Yahoo goes to Google I'd expect a sudden *strong* increase in SEO emphasis on scoring high with Inktomi. Yahoo is a major force when it comes to searches. Inktomi is probably doing all the can to woo Yahoo.
Just anecdotal and things could have changed since then, but I wouldn't be surprised to an Inktomi deal.
We'll see soon...
The only thing left to do is for Google to drop ODP for the Y! directory.
What appears to be a symbiosis may be no more than a short term ride.
Is Google is running this way with Yahoo until they get some IPO money to go their own way?
Without doubt, Google is a potential threat to Yahoo. As time goes on that threat will increase not decrease. While Inktomi is still alive Yahoo has a chance to curtail that threat. A year from now Google will be that much stronger, Inktomi that much weaker, and Yahoo that much more vulnerable. A Yahoo deal with Inktomi is either now or never. Yahoo and Inktomi have worked together in the past and a long term symbiosis between those parties seems more logical.
1) News Engine. (done)
2) Google to introduce a universal signup for all its offerings (api search - answers - usenet groups - etc)
3) Drop the Open Directory.
I expected 1 and 2 if they _didn't_ have Yahoo, and expected #3 if they _did_ have Yahoo.
Yeh I know, I sound like a Google fan. And I am. But I just think Google gives the best results.
Go ahead and search. You won't -- at this point -- find a better result from All the Web, Teoma and WiseNut and etc. Not Yet. They may get there, but they are not yet there. So what would Yahoo! choose: Inktomi? or FAST? A Waste. A Joke.
Sorry, guess that was a little strong re Inktomi & FAST ... but really, given the reach of Google, what directory portal wanting to give its customers straight and great search results would choose other than 'Google' --? unless, of course, the price were too high.
Unless Yahoo! wants to loose ground to AOL (and Netscape) which now use Google, Yahoo! should mind its manners and not fool around with a sure thing. Of course I have a prejudice: I am listed well on Google. You bet I have a prejudice, but also, I hope, some judgement.
Can't see how Yahoo! switching to another search engine like Fast or Teoma would really better its search results, but it might better its dollars if it gets a better deal. But the cost in terms of relevant search results? In the end, I think long term: it would pay them to stay with Google. We just don't know the inside dope on what it costs Yahoo! to do that vs go with someone else.
But Google did not get the Yahoo! account without being wise to what that meant for Google. I am sure they will do all that is necessary to keep it.
FROM the traffic I get, it is down to those two: Google and Yahoo seem now to be the two search places on the web for most consumers. A PARTNERSHIP OR fight seems almost inevitable.
Three signs I was watching for:1) News Engine. (done)
2) Google to introduce a universal signup for all its offerings (api search - answers - usenet groups - etc)
3) Drop the Open Directory.I expected 1 and 2 if they _didn't_ have Yahoo, and expected #3 if they _did_ have Yahoo.
Please expand on this Brett.... I'd love to know your view on these "signs" as they relate to the Google / Yahoo relations.
This may take a long time, but in the long term they will come into a direct competition with Yahoo.
I think the belief that thousands of surfers would suddenely desert Yahoo if they switched to Ink is totally unrealistic.
Beyond that though, if Yahoo! were to choose [st]Inktomi, they would be inadvertently driving traffic to Google and others. No one in their right mind would stick to using that search index... If you don't type in a search phrase of more than four words - you're damn well going to get a boatload of affiliate sites at ther top - Not exactly what Y! is all about... Right?
In any event, let Y! do it if they so choose. They're not worth an ounce of effort now, and sure as hell won't be after they make a mistake like the one rumored in the Times.
What puzzles me is that for Inky, you get 2 different results whether you search on MSN or Overture. Try it.
Why should Yahoo! re-invent the wheel with their own search engine? Why spend all the time, money & bandwidth the spider the web? Remember that it takes tons of bandwidth, tons of disk space, tons of processing power, etc. Better for them to outsource it... and they can always change their outsourcing as they see fit.
The more popular Google becomes the more they get an attitude. They have been the golden child for a while now... and that threatens Yahoo! But more than the threat of competition I believe there is an inherent trade-off between Google returning great results and Yahoo's users opting to NOT use the directory style navigation of Yahoo.
Keep in mind that LookSmart & ODP have similar "directory" models to Yahoo!... yet neither one has a large amount of traffic to their own sites. Search engines are still the primary way for users to browse the web.
I believe that Inktomi and Looksmart both give "profit sharing" to MSN. Likely Yahoo! would like to get some extra pocket cash as well! (Google isn't PAYING Yahoo!)
. . . and of course Yahoo would just sit by completely helpless while that happend.
Don't you think that Inktomi will agree to make whatever adjustments, accomodations and/or changes that Yahoo deems important to Yahoo? The last time there was a Yahoo/Ink relationship Ink no one party were calling the shots. Now, Yahoo will be the taskmaster. Remember, without Yahoo Ink is doomed.
With Google, Yahoo will always be looking over their shoulder. Google now have their own news engine. Do you think they asked Yahoo's permission before they did it? Google will always do what Google feels they need to do. . . . and Yahoo knows it all too well. Yahoo created a troglodite when they got involved with Google. Ask Yahoo the famous question, "Are you better off now than you were a year ago?" What do you think Yahoo's answer would be? Were they better off before they made Google a star or after.
Yahoo would be a fool to keep pumping up Google. With Inktomi they can compose their own music.
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This made me think "hmmm, maybe they are going to insert INK results here." Yahoo could default to the INK web page matches since INK could share revenues from their PFI searches.
I don't know if this means anything, but it sure was wierd. I ran the same search this morning, and it is back to normal for me. I can't duplicate yesterday's results (I should've taken a screen shot).
