Yahoo! Not A Search Company - CEO

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Yahoo! is not a search company, according to its CEO. Yes, we knew that since, like, a long time ago.

Speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit, Yahoo!’s CEO Carol Bartz stressed that the company is not a search company, like (apparent) main competitor Google. “We are content–that’s what we are,” she adds.

Bartz admits that search still makes up half of Yahoo!’s business, but the company doesn’t want to be identified too much as a search engine. Much like the olden Internet days, Yahoo! still embodies an Internet directory and a place where to find good content. I remember they were the place to be when you wanted to find something; they used to license Google’s and then Inktomi’s search technology. Now, Yahoo! has 17% market share in search, while Google is, well, Google.

Bartz reiterated that Yahoo!’s current focus is on building up original content for the Web with its Contributor Network. However, search will still be very much in the picture, although not the main highlight.

Also, Bartz hinted at a continuing partnership with Microsoft, which is still willing to invest its “huge pile of resources,” even with a failed takeover bid a couple of years back.