Yahoo is discontinuing Xoopit support for Gmail. Yahoo had acquired Xoopit in July. Yahoo has sent an email to all Xoopit users information that “Xoopit for Gmail is closing. Here’s the info you’ll need.” The email provides information on how to export files, photos, videos and attachments which may be stored on the service.
Here is an except from the email:
“We will be officially turning off Xoopit for Gmail on November 13, 2009, to focus our efforts on making My Photos for Yahoo! Mail an amazing product and bring those features to all Yahoo! Mail users. Given our focus, we decided we cannot adequately support the Xoopit for Gmail product and give you a great experience in the future. Here are some details to guide you through this transition.”
Xoopit is an email plug-in service that works both with Google Gmail and Yahoo Mail. In Gmail it displays a strip across the top which displays images of all the recent attachments and so the user can scan emails for their contents instead of by subject lines. When the Xoopit thumbnail strip is clicked, it displays a grid of photos, images, videos, docs and other attachments.
Back in July when Yahoo acquired Xoopit, many wondered its motives. At least now we know why–to prevent Google from acquiring it and improving it further to their own advantage. Yahoo can continue Gmail support if it wants. However, it has chosen to discontinue it which gives a clear indication that Yahoo is no friend of Google. When it comes to competing with Google, Yahoo will take all shots available in the book.