http://www.irconnect.com/askjinc/pages/news_releases.html?d=58877

"Since the 2001 acquisition of the Teoma search engine, Ask Jeeves' strategy has been to build or acquire differentiated, next-generation, and best-in-class products or technologies," said Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Ask Jeeves Inc. "We expect that Tukaroo's desktop search and information management capabilities will enable Ask Jeeves to deliver a seamless, end-to-end search experience across the desktop and the Internet."

Mr. Jeeves is working hard to build its search property. Will this purchase make a difference?

Well, I suppose if it wants to stay competitive and even in the search industry, it has to pull out all guns with Microsoft scaring them all with Longhorn and Google currently racing them to the desktop. When is Yahoo going desktop I wonder, or did I miss that one?

>>>When is Yahoo going desktop I wonder, or did I miss that one?

Y! Signed an agreement with Plaxo in May.
http://www.searchenginelowdown.com/2004/05/plaxo-signs-deal-to-integrate-yahoo.html

Not quite "desktop search" but it gets them integrated into Outlook / Outlook express, and Plaxo has a userbase of 2 million...

Ask is positioning themselves to capture those users disenchanted with the big 3 - I can see there reach expanding over the next 12-18 months.

And if MSN really drops the ball with their new search product it could be good timing for Ask to move in and win over some new searchers.

It seems hotbot has has desktop search out already:

http://www.hotbot.com/tools/desktop/

I find it really funny, how everyone thinks the big 3 will dominate. Google may be the best but the experience is crap. Search is still very nascent, so it is still anyone's game (regardless of how many billions you have or how many phds you have). Keep in mind that 6 out of 10 Google users are willing to switch to a better experience (S&P paid survey).

btw: I am not saying that Lycos is in any position to win the search/portal game.

...FindMe

Ugh. I wish i were back to those days of good ole DOS :(

Ever since AskJeeves bought Tukaroo their stock has tanked. :mad:

Its funny that you mentioned the stock price. Even today (June 22) after dropping huge amounts the share price is higher than both MS and Yahoo!

Sure 3 weeks ago they were up almost $10 from where they are now, the the shift down happens when a purchase like this is made by a tech company.

Since they can't monetize the purchase right away they take some short term losses on share pricing. Once you see the Ask toolbar (with integrated desktop search) you will see the price rebound.

Does anyone know what Tukaroo's closest competitors would be? (besides hotbot toolbar and google puffin).

Thanks!

Looks like alongside local and international expansion, desktop search is going to be another big growth area in the industry.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/16/BUG5C86GE81.DTL

You guys know of any other big growth areas in search? Thanks

You guys know of any other big growth areas in search? Thanks

Yea - Gary just posted a topic named Feedster Will Place Ads in RSS Feeds (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=1139). I'm curious how that will take off. I know its not "search" exactly, but let's think how it can apply to search more.

Rusty are the big boys going to make blog search a separate vertical similar to local and shopping? I have read some rumors.

I've heard rumors as well. Not sure how many verticals I can handle. :) The key is invisible verticals (tabs). ;)

Listened to the Jeeves CEO presentation online today. He said Tukaroo should be launched mid 4th quarter this year. Whatever Jeeves launches tomorrow I still think desktop search is more important. I say it changes the industry as we now know it.

Today's Wall Street Journal says desktop search coming from Jeeves next month. Sooner than I expected.