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America Online Introduces New AOL Search Innovations and Opens up New Opportunities for AdvertisersDULLES, Va. --(Business Wire)-- Jan. 20, 2005 -- America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, announced today new AOL(R) Search innovations and partnerships to expand its offerings for AOL(R) subscribers, current and future audiences of AOL's network of Web properties, including the new AOL.com(R) portal, and advertisers. Available today is a new version of AOL Search, as America Online expands its search services with new technology partners in addition to Google(TM) core results. On AOL Search, users can find news, local information, images, audio and video files, and products all in one place, and it combines results from Google with relevant AOL(R) content and tools to quickly narrow searches, helping users find better answers faster than ever before. New enhancements of AOL Search include: -- An updated design that moves away from a tabbed interface to provide users with a more directed and personalized search experience. -- A new sorting and "clustering" feature that helps users find exactly what they are looking for more quickly and efficiently. AOL has licensed clustering technology from Vivisimo, which automatically organizes relevant search results by topics and displays them alongside the list of general Web search results. This approach saves users from having to wade through long lists so they can zero in on more specific results and find exactly what they're searching for. AOL Search is the first major search engine to incorporate clustering technology within its search results. -- An innovative AOL(R) SmartBox(TM) suggestion tool that automatically presents relevant choices to help instantly narrow a query even before users press the "Search" button. The SmartBox tool helps users refine and clarify their search, increasing the accuracy of their results. For example, typing in the word "eagles" into the AOL Search query box presents the opportunity for users to hone their search to "The Eagles" (the band), "The Philadelphia Eagles" (football team), or "Eagles" (the bird). AOL Search will also display a user's most recent searches to save time when they want to look up the same searches again. -- A new layer of results called "Snapshots" appears at the top of search results and presents editorial content and relevant information for a wide range of topics from local movie showtimes and sports stats to current events. Snapshots results, which draw from AOL's large network of content and Web brands, include member ratings for local businesses, restaurants and other points of interest. Also available are quick tools such as a calculator, currency converter, "find a flight" from AOL(R) Travel, and "find a restaurant" from AOL(R) CityGuide. There are now more than 2.5 million AOL(R) Snapshots programmed packages provided for as many as 20% of all AOL Search queries. AOL Search integrates locally relevant search results for cities across the U.S. and draws from AOL's leading local services including AOL CityGuide, AOL(R) Yellow Pages, and the MapQuest(R) and Moviefone(R) services. -- Integrated shopping search results provide users with an easy and convenient way to purchase products they're looking for or to easily access Pinpoint(R) Shopping's database of more than 25 million products where users can also narrow products by category, brand, price, store name and merchant rating. -- As part of America Online's ongoing commitment to ensure usability of AOL products and services by people with disabilities, the new AOL Search offers the ability to adjust font sizes and improved compatibility with screen reader software used by the blind. Coming soon, AOL Search will further expand its Local Search capabilities with a greater diversity of features, based on a new algorithm, giving users an even more comprehensive and convenient way to find information where they live, work and travel. America Online is working with Fast Search & Transfer, Inc. (FAST(TM)), a leading provider of search technology and solutions, to enhance its expanded local search services and results customized to users' geographic locations. Also announced today, America Online has signed a license agreement with Copernic for desktop search technology. Under the agreement, AOL is working with Copernic to deliver integrated desktop search with AOL Search that will allow users to conveniently search from one place for information online or files on their computer hard-drive. America Online is also working to provide expanded opportunities for businesses and advertisers. In addition to its successful relationship with Google to provide Web search results and sponsored links for AOL Search, America Online announced today that it will work with Ingenio, a company that offers a new way for local merchants to tap the power of Internet advertising through its Pay Per Call(TM) Advertising Platform. Ingenio Pay Per Call offers advertisers -- whether or not they operate a Web site -- an Internet-based, pay-for-performance system to drive targeted phone calls, rather than clicks, to their business for fast and efficient customer acquisition. Coming soon, these advertisers - including businesses large and small, as well as local merchants and service providers - will be showcased in a sponsored link search results area on AOL Search, the AOL.com Web site, AOL Yellow Pages and other AOL properties, providing advertisers exposure to a mass audience of ready-to-buy customers searching online for local products and services. Ingenio Pay Per Call advertisers will be charged only after a phone call is made to their business as a result of the ad. An auction-based, open bidding approach gives advertisers unique insight into their local market, allowing them to determine how much a phone lead is worth to their business at any given time. Media contacts: To view the online press kit and download graphics for AOL Search, please visit www.corp.aol.com/presskits. About America Online, Inc. America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX). Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. |
