Yahoo Mail's road to success: Sticky content, regular upgrades, and keeping up with Gmail

A few other improvements that have helped Yahoo maintain its dominance: It was the first Web mail service to offer free, real-time text messaging to mobile phone numbers. Yahoo is also opening Yahoo Mail to external developers to provide users with easy access to relevant content, such as maps or invitations, within their e-mail interface. It's worth noting that while Yahoo Mail may appear to be on the cutting edge, many new features have been prompted by innovations brought to market by Gmail, including unlimited storage and an AJAX-based user interface. Nevertheless, Yahoo Mail remains in the lead . . . at least for now.

(Image: Yahoo Mail, circa 2002. Source: Internet Archive)

Read the rest of the First To Market special feature:

• AIM's formula for success: Buddy lists, IM partnerships, and the enterprise
• eBay's formula: An easy-to-use online marketplace and a dedicated community
• PayPal: The king of Web-based payments returns to its mobile roots
• VeriSign's recipe: "Magic cookies," branding, and a need for security