<p>Yahoo's search for its identity over the past few years has led it back to the basics. It has souped up its email service with a new look and improved functionality that rivals that of Gmail and Hotmail. Pulling Yahoo's mail service out of the ditch of disrepute it had fallen into signals recognition of its core value to the company, as well as email's intrinsic value as a dark social tool.</p><p>Yahoo has given its email service a major makeover, both for its desktop and mobile products. The changes include a streamlined and less cluttered interface that is easier to navigate. The new version of Yahoo! Mail is also faster for users to open and read messages.</p><p>The changes have been long in coming, and probably arrived just in time for Yahoo if it wants to remain a viable email provider for the masses, Paul Levinson, professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University, told TechNewsWorld.Long Time Coming</p><p>"It has been many years since Yahoo was comparable to Google in terms of search and email usage," he said. "I think people mainly maintain a Yahoo email account to route spam and junk mail into, and as an alternative account in case the Google system goes down."</p><p><a href="http://www.technewsworld.com/story/76842.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://solar-panel-reviews.org/2012/12/yahoo-mail-undergoes-makeover/">Yahoo! Mail Undergoes Makeover</a> (Solar Panels News)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dG8P0oBGhLQHTQMzePhOwK6h0GpoM&ned=us">2 additional articles.</a></p>