A few days ago Yahoo acquired Alike, a mobile app that helps users discover nearby venues and places to visit. Terms of the deal were not unveiled by either Yahoo or Alike, but it said that existing Alike iPhone and web apps will be shut down as a result of the acquisition. Instead, Yahoo will most likely launch its own such app/service as part of CEO Marissa Mayer’s plan to push into mobile.
Other web giants like Google and Facebook also have similar services, namely Google+Local and Facebook Nearby. Moreover, there are other rivals in this space such as Yelp and Foursquare, though we think there’s a market for another player. And if it has the power of a Yahoo brand behind it, that much better for the end-users.
“We believe that distilled information, deeply personalized and made accessible anytime and anywhere, is what makes mobile experiences a part of our customers’ daily lives,” the Alike website posted to its blog. We believe that too and are looking forward to see what Yahoo can do with Alike’s assets…