Flickr Photo Sharing Service Acquired by Yahoo
Will it be Google, will it be Yahoo? Who will acquire Flickr? Well, this weekend not only was Ask Jeeves acquired by IAC in a groundshaking surprise move, but Yahoo also acquired Flickr, the photo sharing and flogging (foto blogging) community service.
Duncan Riley from Blog Herald has the scoop:
The online photo management and sharing application owned by Canadian firm Ludicorp, has a strong following in the blogosphere and is regarded by many as the best service of its type available. Details of the purchase price has not been revealed, however the Flickr team reveal that Yahoo! has bought Ludicorp in its entirety.
The Flickr blog has already posted to users stating that whilst Flickr technology will be integrated in Yahoo! Photos, they expect the Flickr product to continue on a stand alone basis for the forseeable future.
Here are some further answers from the Flickr blog:
What is going to happen to Flickr?
Flickr will be continuing on the path it’s on — to Flickr 1.0 and beyond. We’ll be working with a bunch of people that Totally Get Flickr and want to preserve the community and the flavor of what is here. We’re going to grow and change, but we’re in it for the long haul, with the same management and same team.
You’re not going to become a bunch of suits?
No, no, no! The precious DNA we’ve got — that of the Ludicrew — is on side and revving up for building Flickr. Having the team building out the team’s vision for Flickr has been stressed as our number one priority, and keeping us around — in spite of our wiseassery, tomfoolery and tendency to hoot spontaneously — is crucial for preserving the Flickrness that is Flickr. They’re not going to replace any of us with suits, nor induce us to wear them. Lapel? I don’t know what you mean.
Are you going to become Yahoo Photos?
No. Yahoo Photos will get a lot of Flickr features, and there are alot of other areas around Yahoo that will also be Flickrized where Flickrization would be good. Yahoo Photos and Flickr have different kinds of users with different needs, and will remain separate for the foreseeable future. Flickr would also suffer from a sudden deluge of LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! omg! so we’re going to grow it carefully.
Do I have to have a Yahoo ID to use Flickr?
No. In the future, you’ll be able to log into Flickr using your Yahoo account, but you can continue logging on as before.
Will Terry Semel do the Developers Developers Developers shtick?
The fabulous Flickr API will continue to be open wide as all the outdoors, though we really gotta work on those commercial use licenses. Terry is as brilliant a businessman as Ballmer, but alas, does not dance. It messes up his hair.
