Get the power of Google
2006-10-25 13:33
San Francisco - Hoping to leave an even bigger imprint on the internet, Google is opening up its vast online index so other websites can build their own specialty search engines.
The free service marks Google's latest attempt to expand its lucrative online advertising network and extend its influence on how people navigate the internet.
"Now people can get the power of Google search even when they're not on Google.com," said Shashi Seth, group product manager for the custom search engine.
Mountain View, California-based Google already dominates internet search, with a 45% share of the US market through September, according to comScore Media Metrix.
The custom tools will allow other websites to limit the range of material that they want to include in their search indexes as well as rank the importance of specific pages.
The concept mirrors the approach of a small start-up called Rollyo.com.
Process made simple
Google said it simplified the process so even technological neophytes should be able to tailor their own search engines in 10 minutes or so.
Hundreds of websites already rely on Google's search technology, but most of those arrangements either focus exclusively on content posted within a partner's site or span the billions of pages indexed in Google's complete database.
Google designed its customising system to appeal to websites that want their search engines to focus on specific topics. For instance, a fishing site might tailor Google's customised search engine so it doesn't scan music sites to minimise the chances for confusion when the term "bass" is entered.
Software maker Intuit Inc already has used Google's customised tools to create a specialty search engine for a new website, JumpUp.com, devoted to small business issues.
In return for providing a tailor-made search index, Google will display short, text-based ads tied to the search requests entered at participating websites.
The revenue generated from those ads will be shared with the website owners - the same approach that has enabled Google to build the internet's biggest advertising network and establish itself among the world's most valuable companies with a market value of nearly $150bn after just eight years in business.
Websites run by government agencies, universities and non-profit groups will be permitted to deploy the custom search tools without being forced to run Google's ads.
On the net:
www.google.com
- AP