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December 05, 2012

Several Features on Yahoo Messenger Get Discontinued

By Ed Silverstein, TMCnet Contributor

Yahoo Messenger has a new message for users: They will no longer have access to several well-known features.

The changes come as the company refocuses to become more profitable and more popular with users located around the world.

“We have decided to discontinue several Yahoo… product features,” according to a recent company blog post. “This will enable us to refocus our efforts on modernizing our core Yahoo … products experiences and of course, create new ones.”



For example, Yahoo Messenger public chat rooms will be closed on Dec. 14. They have been increasingly less available to users in recent years – after concerns arose about under-age users participating in adult-themed chat rooms.

On the same date, Pingbox will not be available on Yahoo Messenger. The features allowed visitors to send instant messages to the owner of a page. Users are urged to uninstall Pingbox and directions will be available from the company.

Also, Yahoo Messenger will not be interoperable with Microsoft Windows Live Messenger anymore. Meanwhile, Windows Live Messenger is being merged with Skype (News - Alert).

In addition, on Jan. 30, 2013 Yahoo will stop providing Yahoo Voice Phone In and Phone Out capabilities – which is a landline and mobile phone service from Jajah. Users of the service will find they can’t add money to their accounts, and will get refunds of current balances. Details will be provided by Yahoo.

"Sometimes… we have to make tough decisions, like closing down features that we feel aren't adding enough value for you," Yahoo said in a statement quoted by ZDNet.

The changes come as new CEO Marissa Mayer is reviewing Yahoo’s overall operations, according to TMCnet. She wants to see more growth in users, to have the company raise more revenue from advertising, and for the public to routinely use Yahoo.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.




Edited by Brooke Neuman
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