Yahoo! to announce a new mobile suite on Friday; Partners with Asian carriers

In its effort to rule the mobile world, Yahoo is preparing to announce a new version of its Yahoo! Go suite of apps on Friday. Initially, the new version will target the U.S. users, while the test version will be available in 13 other countries including Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, Thailand and Vietnam.

The new version of Yahoo Go! will bring the following improvements:

• Yahoo! Mail users will be able to open Word, Excel and PDF attachments, as well as access and file emails in folders.
• Local and Maps service will be upgraded with the support for GPS receivers, and the addition of satellite and hybrid maps. Furthermore, the service will now also feature other useful information such as traffic conditions and various points of interests (restaurants, ATMs).
• Overall the new version of Yahoo! Go will bring the better integration across the applications in the suite — for instance, you will be able to call people directly from your Yahoo! Address Book and get driving directions and maps to their street addresses.

To boost its presence in Asia, the search giant will also announce pacts with six carriers on the continent to use Yahoo oneSearch Web-based search service as the default engine on their mobile portals. Mobile operators that signed a deal with Yahoo are Globe Telecom Inc. in the Philippines, Idea Cellular Ltd. in India, LG Telecom Co. Ltd. in Korea, Maxis Communications Berhad in Malaysia, PT Telekomunikasi Selular “Telkomsel” in Indonesia and Taiwan Mobile Co. Ltd. in Taiwan.

[Via: The Wall Street Journal]