Yahoo Inc, the most-visited US Web site, reached an agreement with Hewlett-Packard Co to distribute a browser toolbar and make Yahoo the home page on some new computers.
Desktop and notebook computers sold in Europe will be set to show Yahoo's home page when users open an Internet browser, while customers in North America will get a co-branded search toolbar, Yahoo said on Thursday in a statement.
Yahoo is seeking to lure more users to its Web sites and search engine through the accord with Hewlett-Packard, the world's second-largest computer-maker. Yahoo signed a similar agreement with Acer Inc, the fourth-largest PC maker, last month, while Google Inc has its own agreement with market leader Dell Inc.
"The idea that you can be the default setting is a very good one," said Sue Feldman, an analyst with IDC in Framingham, Massachusetts. "People don't change their settings very often."
Yahoo also said its search engine will be set as the default on Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer 7 Web browser on Hewlett-Packard computers in North America when the software is released. Terms of the multiyear agreement weren't disclosed.
Yahoo is counting on agreements with computer manufacturers to drive more users to its search engine, e-mail and news and sports pages, which generate revenue from advertising. The software will be included with Hewlett-Packard computers immediately, Yahoo said.
"Making it easier for the customer to get to the things they want and the environments they prefer is always the best way to go," Yahoo chief operating officer Dan Rosensweig said in an interview. "Businesses are built on eyeballs. The higher quality, the more distribution that you have, the more value you can create," he said.
Yahoo said last week profit and sales this quarter will be at the low end of its forecast because of slower advertising demand from automakers and financial services providers.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old