Today sees the launch of AskCity, a new local search engine which enables users to find maps, directions, events and movies through a single integrated service. Ask.com, owned by InterActiveCorp, will take advantage of other Web properties in their corporation, such as Fandango, Citysearch.com, TicketMaster, ReserveAmerica and OpenTable.com. AskCity will incorporate business reviews, event tickets, match reservations, and movie and restaurant reservations as a map-centric local service. The project signifies a big step forward in the search engine marketplace and is anticipated to cover a large gap for local search engines.Ask.com, formerly known as Ask Jeeves, is wholly owned by California based IAC Search & Media and was founded in 1996 by Garrett Gruener and David Warthern. The original idea behind Ask Jeeves was to provide a search engine which could give answers to everyday questions formulated in natural language. But with the rapid growth of Google, MSN and Yahoo!, Ask Jeeves experienced a dramatic reduction in its user base. In February, 2006 Ask Jeeves re-branded as Ask.com and began using a brand new algorithm, ExpertRank, for indexing relevant websites. Ask is trying to catch up and recover its users and it certainly seems that AskCity will help regain web users who would like specific answers rather than the generic solutions currently offered by the major players in the search engine world.
What is AskCity.com?
AskCity will merge business information, directions and maps in a three-pane interface; and in addition to its user-friendly design, it will offer users driving directions, reviews or movie timetables without having to navigate through an endless series of windows. Another special feature is the Pin, which will allow users to save directions for future use. However, the best thing about AskCity is that there is an effort to provide services which are not already available - so it's not just a replication of Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps.
However, it seems that Ask.com will soon be able to compete with Microsoft, Google and Yahoo on providing map services. In the near future, other web properties owned by IAC Search & Media will also blend into the AskCity service; these include RealEstate.com, Evite, Match.com and Gifts.com among others. The integration of such services will make AskCity the first search engine to cover local needs.
While Ask City is only just getting off the ground, it seems obvious that the service could be even more powerful if it is eventually integrated with mobile search functionality. Google Maps attracted 23.9 million visitors last October while Yahoo! turned 15.6 million during the same period - and mobile search is expanding by the minute. The opportunity for Ask to regain territory in the search market and recover valuable users seems quite clear.
AskCity will also profit from Paid Search results - this will come from local businesses which want to advertise only in their specific region and compete with more traditional advertising methods such as local newspapers, television or radio.
