Yahoo and Twitter strike content-sharing partnership

by Stevie Smith - Feb 24 2010, 09:45

Following news that Microsoft and Amazon have struck a patent-sharing deal, Yahoo has announced a buddy-buddy partnership with Twitter that will provide the Internet pioneer with a bigger window onto the social networking scene while pushing the exposure of the Twitter micro-blogging service.

According to Yahoo, the Twitter partnership will transform Yahoo into a highly customisable social experience that enables both Yahoo and Twitter users to enjoy integrated content without ever having to travel between the two platforms.

“Let me try to capture the enormity of this integration in 140 characters or less,” offered Bryan Lamkin, senior vice president of consumer products at Yahoo, in an obvious nod to the Twitter trend.

“We’re turning the key to the online social universe – you will find the most personally relevant experiences through Yahoo!” he explained. “We’re also simplifying people’s lives by bringing their social worlds – and the world – together for easy access.”

(Not including spaces, we make that out to be 197 characters, Bryan.)

Pedantry aside, the deal will enable Yahoo users to access their Twitter feeds through the Yahoo homepage, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Sports and other Yahoo properties.

Similarly, Twitter users will be able to share content from Yahoo through their Twitter streams, and Yahoo Search and Yahoo Media properties (i.e., News Finance, Entertainment, and more) will include real-time public Twitter updates.

“The information in one single tweet can travel light years farther with this Yahoo integration,” enthused Twitter co-founder Biz Stone in an official statement. “Tweets in more places brings relevance where and when you need it most.”

Yahoo’s deal with Twitter comes hot on the heels of a similar content-sharing arrangement it forged with leading social network Facebook back in December of 2009.

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