After trying to reinvent the browser, failing, and then pivoting to a new Web-based social feeds product that resembled Flipboard, Rockmelt has been acquired by Yahoo.
According to Rockmelt, its products will be completely shut down at the end of this month. Current users will be able to export their existing content as an OPML file.
This news continues Yahoo’s rapid string of acquisitions, including deals with Lexity, Ztelic, AdMovate, Summly, Astrid, Milewise, Loki Studios, Go Poll Go, PlayerScale, Rondee, Ghostbird Software and Tumblr.
From Rockmelt’s announcement post:
Yahoo! and Rockmelt share a common goal: To help people discover the best content from around the web. In our short four and a half years at Rockmelt, we’ve learned a lot about how you like to browse the web, discover content, and share the great stuff you’ve found. You’ve been right by our sides as we’ve celebrated successes, endured failures, and invented new ways of doing things. You’ve taught us a ton. And we plan to put everything we’ve learned to work at Yahoo!.
In its announcement, Rockmelt ambiguously stated that it will continue its “mission of exploring the Web faster and in a fun way” at Yahoo. It is unknown exactly what the Rockmelt team will be working on within Yahoo at this stage. We have reached out to both companies and will update this post when we hear back.
Update: A Yahoo spokesperson has shared the following.
Thirty-two Rockmelt employees have joined our media and mobile organization. We aren’t going to discuss specifics on what they’re working on, but we plan to integrate the Rockmelt technology into our media platform in order to deliver content in new and exciting ways. Stay tuned!
According to AllThingsD, Yahoo paid $60 to $70 million for RockMelt. We reached out to Yahoo and the company refused to confirm or deny this figure.
Image credit: Thinkstock
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