When does Google contract with Yahoo! end?

Can't find any data on when in 2003 the term's up

[Winooski]

Hi gang. Well, I've been doing "due diligence" searching and directory crawling, but can't find the answer. Anyone know when exactly Google's contract with Yahoo! ends? I realize that Yahoo! could start using Inktomi data at any point, but I'm trying to get a handle on when's the drop-dead date.

[jeremy goodrich]

They renewed for an unspecified time frame, but the contract (as well as Yahoo's site) say that Yahoo may use multiple third party providers for their results.

In short, nobody knows...my hunch is as soon as they have something comparable from their purchases hacked together, it will replace Google in a heartbeat.

[Winooski]

This just in re when Google's contract with Yahoo! expires [siliconvalley.internet.com]:

Yahoo! continues to use Google as its primary search results tool at least until the contract between the two companies expires next month.

(Next month would be September, 2003.)

The August 21 Internet.com article covers a presentation by Jeff Weiner, Yahoo!'s "search czar", talking this week at the Search Engine Strategies 2003 Conference & Expo in San Jose (just minutes from Yahoo!'s campus in Sunnyvale). I'm presuming that Weiner himself was the source for this contract expiration date, though the article doesn't make it clear.

[2_much]

That's a great article.

One thing that also stood out for me was Weiner's emphasis on "vertical search" and the different types of searches that take place. He emphasized their other "channels" such as travel, finance, etc.

This got me thinking: Perhaps they'll keep Google for their search engine and start using INK to develop their other areas?

I'm not sure if this makes sense, but given the contract that allows them to use Google plus other engines, and knowing their emphasis on search, perhaps that would make sense?

Just a thought.

[mack]

I cant see Yahoo dropping Google altogether, They own a stake in Google and it makes sence to use Google to provide results and increase their stake value. If yahoo dropped Google totaly then the potential to increase on their investment would deminish. I would think Yahoo is by far Googles largest partner, loosing yahoo could be very bad news for the IPO if and when it happens. I can't see Yahoo doing anything to harm Google before the IPO.

As 2_much said it would be interesting to see if Yahoo do indeed develop their other search services into verticals, It just doesn't make much sence for Yahoo to drop their provider when by doing so will devalue the quality of Yahoo results.

It's quite strange to think we are even having this thread at all. Seams like only months ago when we where all assuming Yahoo was getting away from search to concentrate on it's portal operations. Man we where wrong in a big way.

The one big question I have is...
If Yahoo dropped Google totaly, who would then have the largest market share in the SE marketplace. It would be very interesting to do the math.

Mack.

[powerstar]

>>>>This got me thinking: Perhaps they'll keep Google for their search engine and start using INK to develop their other areas? >>>>

I don't think so....

Weiner said Inktomi will be used extensively throughout Yahoo!'s main site and search areas on a global scale but declined to state when the migration would take place.

Inktomi = make $

Google = pay $

Google is out (from Yahoo anyway)

[msr986]

Conflicting information from MSN:

Yahoo’s agreement with Google isn’t due to expire until late 2004, but according to Crowe, its contract with the search provider doesn’t contain any exclusivity clauses.

[msnbc.com...]

[steveb]

What part of this do people not get? Yahoo has paid Google until next fall. Google is going nowhere. The idea that Yahoo is suddenly going to shoot itself in the head and dump something they have paid for just so they could use a worse product that they also have paid for is ludicrous.

[powerstar]

>>>>What part of this do people not get? Yahoo has paid Google until next fall. Google is going nowhere. The idea that Yahoo is suddenly going to shoot itself in the head and dump something they have paid for just so they could use a worse product that they also have paid for is ludicrous.<<<<<<

Again one small diffrent, with Ink they will make money with Google they have to pay. If Inktomi is such a bad product why did they buy it to begin with? They already had Google and they will be happy to keep providing the results for a pay.

"Weiner said Inktomi will be used extensively throughout Yahoo!'s main site and search areas on a global scale but declined to state when the migration would take place."

Weiner is the guy for Yahoo

[steveb]

"Google they have to pay"

Where do you get that? You think they pay rent on the first of the month or something?

[takagi]

You think they pay rent on the first of the month or something?

Sure Yahoo pays Google for searching! OTOH, Google pays Yahoo for branding. See: How much? How much is google charging Yahoo? [webmasterworld.com]

[powerstar]

You said: "Yahoo has paid Google until next fall." but even if they pay nothing they are not making anything from Google. They will make money if Inktomi is in the results.

[steveb]

You can't ignore the absurdity of the concept your presenting. Yahoo has paid for Google and Inktomi. They quite intend to get their money worth out of both, and made that intention clear from the beginning. They have a non-exclusive deal with Google, and they played that up. That is the point of the whole thing. Ink and more will be added to the mix but Google obviously is not going anywhere.

[powerstar]

Here you go:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[steveb]

Here who goes? Yahoo is mixing results in with Google and has been in the US for awhile now. That's the point. The foundation of the results remains Google. They may move further toward Ink when those results are less poor, but as we can see, Google is clearly the leading the mix now.

[powerstar]

We will wait and see. I think Google will be gone or no where to be found when Ink is implemented.