Yahoo Signs Mobile Search Deal

Yahoo launches its updated search engine with a new deal with Telefónica, covering 15 European countries as well as Latin America.

Yahoo not only spent yesterday trumpeting its revamped search engine, it also had a big reason for celebration.   The Internet giant also signed a deal with major mobile operator Telefónica to be the main search service on Telefónica’s mobile portals in a total of 15 European countries and another 13 in Latin America, reaching a total of around 100 million customers. In the UK and Ireland, the service will be available through O2.   The deal will begin early next year and must have Yahoo executives smiling, as they’ve ousted rivals Microsoft, the previous search suppliers, who’ve also just overhauled their search engine.   No financial details of the deal were given, beyond the fact that the two companies will share advertising revenue. Geraldine Wilson, vice president of Yahoo! Europe mobile division, told the Daily Telegraph,   "There are a number of different targeting advertising options we can do. Age and gender for example are specifics that are only passed on if the user declares them – but demographics, geographics and behavioural facts can be used."   Users will be able to access the Flickr photo service through their mobiles and also receive Yahoo Mail messages directly via MMS.   However, although O2 has the UK franchise for the iPhone, that will not be part of the new Yahoo deal.