Ask Jeeves Launches Desktop Search

HostReview.com
Wednesday, December 15, 2004; 02:16 PM

Ask Jeeves, Inc. (www.Ask.com), a provider of information retrieval brands, today introduced a beta desktop search application. Ask Jeeves Desktop Search(download.ask.com/desktop) makes it easy for people to find information on their computers or the Internet.

Ask Jeeves Desktop Search helps people overcome the challenges of information overload by enabling them to quickly and easily search the hundreds, even thousands, of files, word-processing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, photos, music and video files, applications and email messages on their computers.

"Ask Jeeves Desktop Search extends our world-class technologies and user-centric approach to search beyond the Web, to the information located on people's computers," said Jim Lanzone, senior vice president of search properties at Ask Jeeves.

"Ask Jeeves Desktop Search will complement our recently-introduced MyJeeves(TM) personal search service and is an important step in our personalization strategy. We look forward to receiving feedback on the beta release, as we continue to develop the product in line with people's needs."

Product highlights include: Fresh, Full-Text Index: Upon installation of the small (750K) application, Ask Jeeves Desktop Search creates an index of the information stored on a person's computer; Fast, Flexible Search: Like searching the Internet, users simply type key words into a search box to let Ask Jeeves Desktop Search scour their computer for matching results.

Ask Jeeves expects to add new functionality prior to the formal launch of the product in 2005. Some of these features include expanded support for Outlook, integration of desktop results and Web search results, and PDF support.

A Feedback menu is provided directly on the application interface to make it easy for users to submit comments and requests for new features.