Yahoo! Announces Availability of New Yahoo! Mail Beta to Users Worldwide

September 15, 2006; 09:42 AM
Yahoo! Inc. introduced the widespread availability of a robust new version of Yahoo! Mail, the No. 1 Web mail service in the world(1). Previously available to only a limited number of users, the latest version of the beta is now being rolled out to all Yahoo! Mail users in the United States and 18 markets around the world. Highlights of the Yahoo! Mail beta include a sleek, easy-to-use interface with the speed and responsiveness of a desktop application. The latest version also features innovative online calendar integration and provides a fast, efficient experience with enhanced functionality, such as drag and drop e-mail organization, message preview and an integrated RSS reader. Like the current Yahoo! Mail experience, the new version is a free, browser-based service, accessible from virtually any computer connected to the Internet, without the need for a software download.

The beta is now being rolled out to Yahoo! Mail users in the United States, Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, The Philippines, Singapore, Spain, and Taiwan. In addition, Yahoo! has introduced a localized French-language version in Canada, as well as an English-language version in Asia. Earlier this year, the beta was introduced in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada and Korea, and with this latest global expansion, the beta is now open and localized for people in 18 markets around the world.

"Throughout the development process, we have relied on user feedback to further enhance and refine the Yahoo! Mail beta in our effort to provide the best Web mail experience possible," said Ethan Diamond, director of product management for the new Yahoo! Mail. "We've added new features, like an integrated calendar timeline, and at the same time we continue to offer what's most important: an easy-to-use, reliable, and secure free e-mail service."

In addition to its efficient, powerful user interface, the latest version of Yahoo! Mail also features an all-new integrated calendar timeline, making it easier for people to organize their schedules from within their Web mail, without having to click on a separate view or open another browser window. Upon creating a new Yahoo! Mail account, or signing in to an existing account, users will have the option to try the new interface, and will be able to toggle between the different versions of Yahoo! Mail. As with the current free version of Yahoo! Mail, users of the beta will have access to Yahoo! Customer Care to receive help in addressing technical support needs.

New and improved features include:

-- Enhanced speed and performance

-- Calendar timeline view within e-mail interface

-- Ability to view a map of a meeting or event location within the calendar timeline

-- Industry-leading protection from spam and viruses, including a new spam column located next to each message in the inbox to instantly mark a message as spam

-- New welcome page and "Quick Start" user guide

-- Drag-and-drop message organization

-- Reading pane to instantly view messages

-- Comprehensive and speedy search of e-mail headers, bodies, and attachments

-- Ability to have multiple e-mail messages open at the same time and view them using tabbed navigation

-- Integrated RSS reader, to receive breaking news, blogs, and other feeds directly in the Web mail experience

-- Automatic check and delivery of new mail

-- Keyboard shortcuts and right-click menus

-- Scroll bar for efficient scrolling of all message headers in an inbox or folder

-- Address autocomplete

-- Available on Firefox (Mac/Windows) and Internet Explorer (Windows only)

-- Remains free; supported by advertisers

The new Yahoo! Mail beta incorporates the technological expertise demonstrated by Oddpost, a company acquired by Yahoo! in July 2004, and draws on Yahoo!'s proficiency in scaling innovative technology. Not only is the new version now available to all Yahoo! users, it also provides the most significant enhancement to the Yahoo! Mail interface and user experience since its launch in 1997. The beta was first made available on a limited basis to Yahoo! Mail users in the US last year, and is currently available to all Yahoo! Mail Plus users, as well as to customers of our premium broadband services through AT&T, Verizon, and BT.

Information about the beta and a path to join is available at http://new.mail.yahoo.com.

About Yahoo! Mail

Launched in October 1997, Yahoo! Mail is the world's largest, most popular free e-mail provider. Yahoo! Mail helps people stay in touch at home, at work, or while traveling for business or pleasure, and is available in 21 languages. Yahoo! Mail is fully integrated with Yahoo!'s many other popular services to make it easy to access all the Internet services people need. Yahoo! Mail has recently received Editors' Choice awards from both PC Magazine and CNET, and it received the highest customer satisfaction ranking in a J.D. Power and Associates 2005 survey.

About Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo! seeks to provide online products and services essential to users' lives, and offers a full range of tools and marketing solutions for businesses to connect with Internet users around the world. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

(1) According to comScore Media Metrix, July 2006

SOURCE: Yahoo! Inc.