Web portal Yahoo Inc. announced on Monday the launch of a business-to-business information and services site initially covering software, hardware and electronics, a week after forecasts of stale advertising revenue growth prompted the company to look for cash coming in from other sources.
Yahoo’s Industry Marketplaces ( http://industrymarketplaces.yahoo.com/) will provide business owners and professionals with information and services, research capabilities from product databases, industry-specific news and a rich-media Webcast center, according to a Yahoo company release.
The Electronics Marketplace Resource Center includes a procurement site with a global online exchange for the purchase of electronic components, customizable business news, and a supplier database.
Both the resource centers for software and hardware contain a searchable database of white papers and case studies from IT software industry vendors and analysts, as well as professional development tools, information on upcoming tradeshows and seminars and a Webcast center for streamed audio and video.
The software and hardware sites also have editorial content from IDG Corp., the parent company of the IDG News Service.
Yahoo announced fourth quarter and yearly earnings late Wednesday, reporting a revenue increase of 88 percent to US$1.11 billion and net income increasing 48 percent to $70.8 million. But it also said this year’s earnings would be 25 percent to 42 percent below analysts expectations as reported by First Call/Thomson Financial, the result of expectations of weakening online advertising spending.
Timed to its earnings report, Yahoo has recently announced it will charge fees for its auction sites and is aggressively promoting its Yahoo Corporate portal software and services, hoping to increase revenue from other sources.
Yahoo, in Santa Clara, Calif., can be reached at http://www.yahoo.com/.