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{{Infobox website
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| parent = Ask Media Group, LLC
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| foundation = {{start date and age|1996|6|3}} (as Ask Jeeves)▼
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'''Ask.com''' (originally known as '''Ask Jeeves''') is a [[question answering]]–focused [[e-business]] founded in 1996 by [[Garrett Gruener]] and [[David Warthen]] in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]].▼
▲'''Ask.com''' (originally known as '''Ask Jeeves''') is a [[question answering]]–focused [[Electronic business|e-business]] founded in 1996 by [[Garrett Gruener]] and [[David Warthen]] in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]].
The original software was implemented by [[Gary Chevsky]], from his own design. Warthen, Chevsky, Justin Grant, and others built the early AskJeeves.com website around that core engine. In 2006, the "Jeeves" name was dropped and they refocused on the [[search engine]], which had its own algorithm.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://adage.com/article/digitalnext/long-sad-story-jeeves/147091/|title=The Long, Sad Story of Ask.com|last=Ryan|first=Kevin|date=2010-11-12|website=adage.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115082326/https://adage.com/article/digitalnext/long-sad-story-jeeves/147091/|archive-date=2019-01-15|access-date=2019-02-18}}</ref> In late 2010, facing insurmountable competition from more popular search engines like [[Google Search|Google]], the company outsourced its web search technology and returned to its roots as a [[question and answer site]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/technology/internet/10ask.html?src=busln | work=The New York Times | first=Verne G. | last=Kopytoff | title=Ask.com Giving Up Search to Return to Q-and-A Service | date=November 9, 2010}}</ref> [[Douglas Leeds]] was elevated from president to CEO in 2010.<ref name="IAC Management Bios">{{cite web|title=IAC Management |url=http://iac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=20&item=2491 |work=IAC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105004656/http://iac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=20&item=2491 |archive-date=January 5, 2012 }}</ref>▼
▲The original software was implemented by [[Gary Chevsky]], from his own design. Warthen, Chevsky, Justin Grant, and others built the early AskJeeves.com website around that core engine. In 2006, the "Jeeves" name was dropped and they refocused on the [[search engine]], which had its own algorithm.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://adage.com/article/digitalnext/long-sad-story-jeeves/147091/|title=The Long, Sad Story of Ask.com|last=Ryan|first=Kevin|date=2010-11-12|website=adage.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115082326/https://adage.com/article/digitalnext/long-sad-story-jeeves/147091/|archive-date=2019-01-15|access-date=2019-02-18}}</ref> In late 2010, facing insurmountable competition from more popular search engines like [[Google Search|Google]], the company outsourced its web search technology and returned to its roots as a [[Comparison of Q&A sites|question and answer site]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/technology/internet/10ask.html?src=busln | work=The New York Times | first=Verne G. | last=Kopytoff | title=Ask.com Giving Up Search to Return to Q-and-A Service | date=November 9, 2010}}</ref> [[Doug Leeds|Douglas Leeds]] was elevated from president to CEO in 2010.<ref name="IAC Management Bios">{{cite web|title=IAC Management |url=http://iac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=20&item=2491 |work=IAC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105004656/http://iac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=20&item=2491 |archive-date=January 5, 2012 }}</ref>
Three venture capital firms, [[Highland Capital Partners]], [[Institutional Venture Partners]], and The RODA Group were early investors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1054298/0000950149-99-001225.txt |title=Ask Jeeves, Inc. initial public offering prospectus |access-date=July 12, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629100701/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1054298/0000950149-99-001225.txt| archive-date= June 29, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> Ask.com is currently owned by [[IAC (company)|InterActiveCorp]] (IAC) under the [[NASDAQ]] symbol {{NASDAQ|IAC}}, and its corporate headquarters are located at [[555 City Center]], in the [[Oakland City Center]] development in downtown [[Oakland, California]].▼
▲Three venture capital firms, [[Highland Capital Partners]], [[Institutional Venture Partners]], and The RODA Group were early investors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1054298/0000950149-99-001225.txt |title=Ask Jeeves, Inc. initial public offering prospectus |access-date=July 12, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629100701/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1054298/0000950149-99-001225.txt| archive-date= June 29, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> Ask.com is currently owned by [[IAC (company)|InterActiveCorp]] (IAC) under the [[
==History==
[[File:Jeeves-in-2009.jpg|thumb|Jeeves|left]]
Ask.com was originally known as Ask Jeeves,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=
The original idea behind Ask Jeeves was to allow users to get answers to questions
Ask Jeeves launched in beta in mid-April 1997 and fully launched on June 1, 1997.<ref name=":0" />
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On September 18, 2001, Ask Jeeves acquired [[Teoma]] for over $1.5 million.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rustybrick.com/seo_articles_7.php|title=Teoma – The Superior Search Engine?|website=www.rustybrick.com|access-date=2019-01-29}}</ref>
In July 2005, Ask Jeeves was acquired by [[IAC (company)|IAC]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofseo.com/The-Industry/Short_History_of_Early_Search_Engines.aspx|title=Short History of Early Search Engines – The History of SEO|website=www.thehistoryofseo.com|access-date=2019-02-03|archive-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121213229/http://www.thehistoryofseo.com/The-Industry/Short_History_of_Early_Search_Engines.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iac.com/Our-Businesses/Ask.com|title=IAC|website=www.iac.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226040600/http://www.iac.com/Our-Businesses/Ask.com|archive-date=2010-12-26|access-date=2019-02-18}}</ref>
In February 2006, Jeeves was removed from Ask Jeeves and the search engine rebranded to Ask.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
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In December 2007, Ask released the AskEraser feature,<ref>[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2007/07/ask-com-takes-lead-log-retention-microsoft-and-yahoo-follow Ask.com Takes the Lead on Log Retention; Microsoft and Yahoo! Follow], eff.org. Retrieved January 3, 2008.</ref> allowing users to [[opt-out]] from tracking of [[Web search query|search queries]] and [[IP address|IP]] and [[HTTP cookie|cookie]] values. They also vowed to erase this data after 18 months if the AskEraser option is not set. [[HTTP cookies]] must be enabled for AskEraser to function.<ref>{{cite web|title=Does AskEraser Really Erase?|url=http://epic.org/privacy/ask/default.html |publisher=Electronic Privacy Information Center|access-date=March 10, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080308235509/http://epic.org/privacy/ask/default.html| archive-date= March 8, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Letter to U.S. Federal Trade Commission|url=http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20080123_FTC_Ask.pdf|publisher=Center for Democracy and Technology|date=January 23, 2008|access-date=March 10, 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Ask with wikipedia.png|thumb|An Ask.com search of Wikipedia
On July 4, 2008, Ask acquired Lexico Publishing Group, which owns [[Dictionary.com]], [[Thesaurus.com]], and [[Reference.com]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN0337985120080703|title=Ask.com closes acquisition of Dictionary.com |work=Reuters |date=July 3, 2008 | first=Eric | last=Auchard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8300-10784_3-7-0.html?keyword=Dictionary.com|title=Ask.com closes Dictionary.com deal|publisher=[[CNet]]|date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>
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In August 2008, Ask launched the Ask Kids search engine designed for children.<ref name=":3" />
In April 2009, Jeeves returned to the UK version of Ask.com, redesigned as a CGI character and the website was once again named Ask Jeeves, though international versions were still just Ask.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/apr/20/ask-jeeves-resurrected|title=Jeeves rises from the dead|
On July 26, 2010, Ask.com released a closed-beta Q&A service. The service was released to the public on July 29, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ask-com-Q-A-Service-Drops-July-29th-149176.shtml|title=Ask.com Q&A Service Drops July 29th|publisher=[[Softpedia]]|date=July 27, 2010}}</ref> Ask.com launched its mobile Q&A app for the iPhone in late 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Christian|first=Zibreg|title=Ask.com has an iPhone app that lets you ask and get local answers|url=http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/ask-com-has-an-iphone-app-that-lets-you-ask-and-get-local-answers-20100924/|newspaper=Geek.com|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=May 20, 2011|archive-date=
Ask.com reached 100 million global users per month in 2012<ref>{{cite web|last=Sterling|first=Greg|title=Ask CEO Doug Leeds Proclaims Search Wars "Over," Says Yahoo Can Be Great Again|date=11 October 2012 |url=http://searchengineland.com/ask-ceo-doug-leeds-proclaims-search-wars-over-says-yahoo-can-be-great-again-136263|publisher=Search Engine Land|access-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref> through its website with more than 2 million downloads of its flagship mobile app in that year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Kristina|title=How Tina Fey inspired Ask.com to change|url=http://www.bizreport.com/2012/05/how-tina-fey-inspired-askcom-to-change.html|publisher=BizReport|access-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref> The company has also released additional apps spun out of its Q&A experience, including Ask Around<ref>{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Marin|title=Ask Around app brings location-based conversations to iPhone|url=http://www.intomobile.com/2011/03/03/ask-around-location-app-iphone/|publisher=Into Mobile|access-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801075906/http://www.intomobile.com/2011/03/03/ask-around-location-app-iphone/|archive-date=August 1, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> in 2011 and PollRoll<ref>{{cite web|last=Spirrison |first=Brad |title=Ask.com hits the polls with Pollroll |url=http://www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/11279-ask-com-hits-the-polls-with-pollroll |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128144636/http://www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/11279-ask-com-hits-the-polls-with-pollroll |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 28, 2012 |publisher=Appolicious |access-date=October 16, 2012 }}</ref> in 2012.
===Search engine shut-down===
In 2010, Ask.com abandoned the search industry, with the loss of 130 search engineering jobs, because it could not compete against more popular search engines such as [[Google]]. Earlier in the year, Ask had launched a Q&A community for generating answers from real people as opposed to search algorithms then combined this with its question-and–answer repository, utilizing its extensive history of archived query data to search sites that provide answers to questions people have.<ref>{{cite web|last=Van Grove|first=Jennifer|title=Ask.com Reinvents Itself with a Focus on Community Q&A|url=http://mashable.com/2010/07/26/ask-beta/|work
To avoid a situation in which no answers were available from its own resources, the company outsourced to an unnamed third-party search provider the comprehensive web search matches that it had gathered itself.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kopytoff|first=Verne|title=Ask.com to Return to Old Service|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/technology/internet/10ask.html|work=New York Times|date=November 9, 2010|access-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref>
===Ask Sponsored Listings===
Formerly the direct-sales engine for Ask.com, Ask Sponsored Listings is no longer available, having merged with Sendori, an operating business of IAC, in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ask Sponsored Listings is now Sedori|url=http://advertisersupport.sendori.com/entries/20191622-ask-sponsored-listings-is-now-sendori|publisher=Sendori|access-date=October 29, 2012|archive-date=August 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819010302/http://advertisersupport.sendori.com/entries/20191622-ask-sponsored-listings-is-now-sendori|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Corporate details==
[[File:Askcomheadquarters.jpg|thumb|Ask.com headquarters in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], California (photographed in 2006)|left]]
Ask Jeeves, Inc. stock traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange from July 1999 to July 2005, under the ticker symbol ASKJ. In July 2005, the ASKJ ticker was retired upon the acquisition by IAC,
In 2012, Ask.com made two acquisitions as part of a larger strategy to offer more content on the Ask.com website. On July 2, 2012, Ask.com purchased content discovery start-up<ref>{{cite web|last=de Senerpont Domis |first=Olaf |title=Q&A with Ask.com's CEO and nRelate's Founder |url=http://www.thedeal.com/content/tmt/qa-with-askcoms-ceo-and-nrelates-founder.php |publisher=The Deal Pipeline |access-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710110209/http://www.thedeal.com/content/tmt/qa-with-askcoms-ceo-and-nrelates-founder.php |archive-date=July 10, 2012 }}</ref> nRelate
On August 14, 2014, Ask.com acquired popular social networking website [[ASKfm]], where users can ask other users questions, with the option of anonymity.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Magid|first1=Larry|title=IAC's Ask.com Buys Ask.fm And Hires A Safety Officer To Stem Bullying|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymagid/2014/08/14/iacs-ask-com-buys-ask-fm-and-hires-a-safety-officer-to-stem-bullying/|work=Forbes|access-date=August 29, 2014}}</ref> As of August 14, 2014, Ask.fm had 180 million monthly unique users in more than 150 countries around the world,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Curtis|first1=Sophie|title=Tinder owner buys social network ASKfm|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11034923/Tinder-owner-buys-social-network-Ask.fm.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11034923/Tinder-owner-buys-social-network-Ask.fm.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Telegraph|
In 2021, Ask re-launched its ''SymptomFind''<ref>{{cite web |title=About SymptomFind |url=https://www.symptomfind.com/about |website=Ask Media Group}}</ref> brand and introduced the new finance-focused ''Ask Money'' site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ask Money Homepage |url=https://www.askmoney.com/ |website=Ask Money |publisher=Ask Media Group}}</ref>
==Marketing and promotion==
From November 1999, Ask Jeeves advertised on [[Price look-up code#Promotion via PLU stickers|produce stickers]] on apples, oranges and bananas. Questions such as "How many calories in a banana?" were printed alongside the Ask Jeeves web address.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fabricant |first1=Florence |title=RESPONSIBLE PARTY: DAVID HELLIER; Your $40 Pledge, Her $3 Tote Bag Have Answers? Plant a Question |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/07/business/responsible-party-david-hellier-your-40-pledge-her-3-tote-bag-have-answers-plant.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=10 May 2024 |date=7 May 2000}}</ref><ref name="tampa-bay-times">{{cite web |last1=Trigaux |first1=Robert |title=No space is sacred when it comes to alternative advertising |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/12/03/no-space-is-sacred-when-it-comes-to-alternative-advertising/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=10 May 2024 |language=en |date=3 December 2000}}</ref>
[[Apostolos Gerasoulis]], the co-creator of Ask's Teoma algorithmic search technology, starred in four television advertisements in 2007, extolling the virtues of Ask.com's usefulness for information relevance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://about.ask.com/docs/about/televisionads.shtml |title=About Ask.com: TV Spots |access-date=April 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070410132033/http://about.ask.com/docs/about/televisionads.shtml |archive-date=April 10, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A Jeeves balloon appeared in the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] through 2000–2004.▼
A Jeeves balloon and a float appeared in the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] through 2000–2004.<ref name="tampa-bay-times"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Ellen |title=Ask Jeeves closes door on the butler / Familiar mascot retired as search site becomes Ask.com |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Ask-Jeeves-closes-door-on-the-butler-Familiar-2503272.php |website=SFGATE |access-date=10 May 2024 |language=en |date=27 February 2006}}</ref>
After a hiatus from mass consumer marketing, Ask returned to TV advertising in the fall of 2011 after refocusing its site on questions and answers.<ref>{{cite web|last= Ha|first= Anthony|title= Ask.com Returns to TV, Cautiously|url= http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/askcom-returns-tv-cautiously-136064|publisher= AdWeek|access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> Instead of national advertising, Ask focused on local markets. In the summer of 2012, Ask launched a national cinema campaign,<ref>{{cite web|last= Vega|first= Tanzina|title= Ask.com Heralds a New Focus|url= http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/new-ask-com-ads-highlight-change-in-focus|work= New York Times|access-date= November 12, 2012}}</ref> along with other out-of-home tactics in certain markets such as New York and [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite web|last= Sandoval|first= Greg|title= Hey, Times Square! I'm Google+. Please Notice Me|url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57512960-93/hey-times-square-im-google--please-notice-me/|publisher= CNET|access-date= November 12, 2012}}</ref>▼
▲[[Apostolos Gerasoulis]], the co-creator of Ask's Teoma algorithmic search technology, starred in four television advertisements in 2007, extolling the virtues of Ask.com's usefulness for information relevance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://about.ask.com/docs/about/televisionads.shtml |title=About Ask.com: TV Spots |access-date=April 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070410132033/http://about.ask.com/docs/about/televisionads.shtml |archive-date=April 10, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
▲After a hiatus from mass consumer marketing, Ask returned to TV advertising in the fall of 2011 after refocusing its site on questions and answers.<ref>{{cite web|last= Ha|first= Anthony|title= Ask.com Returns to TV, Cautiously|url= http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/askcom-returns-tv-cautiously-136064|publisher= AdWeek|access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> Instead of national advertising, Ask focused on local markets. In the summer of 2012, Ask launched a national cinema campaign,<ref>{{cite web|last= Vega|first= Tanzina|author-link=Tanzina Vega |title= Ask.com Heralds a New Focus|url= http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/new-ask-com-ads-highlight-change-in-focus|work= New York Times|access-date= November 12, 2012}}</ref> along with other out-of-home tactics in certain markets such as New York and [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite web|last= Sandoval|first= Greg|title= Hey, Times Square! I'm Google+. Please Notice Me|url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57512960-93/hey-times-square-im-google--please-notice-me/|publisher= CNET|access-date= November 12, 2012}}</ref>
As part of a Seattle-based local market effort, Ask.com launched its "You Asked We Answered"<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Laurie|title=Ask.com Launches 'You Asked' Branding Campaign|url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/173829/askcom-launches-you-asked-branding-campaign.html|publisher=Media Post|access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> campaign in 2012, in which the company "answered" residents' top complaints about living in their city, including easing morning commutes and stadium traffic, as well as keeping the local Parks and Rec department wading pools open.
On January 14, 2009, Ask.com became the official sponsor of 2000 [[NASCAR]] [[Sprint Cup Series]] Champion [[Bobby Labonte]]'s No. 96 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]. Ask would become the official search engine of NASCAR.<ref>{{cite web|author= Official Release |url= http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/01/14/ask.com.partnerships/index.html |title= – Ask.com enters NASCAR with multi-faceted program |publisher= Nascar.com |date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=July 12, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110628181843/http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/01/14/ask.com.partnerships/index.html| archive-date= June 28, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> Ask.com was the primary sponsor for the No. 96 for 18 of the first 21 races and had rights to increase this to a total of 29 races that season.<ref>{{cite web |author=Duane Cross |url=http://bbs.cid.cn.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/01/13/blabonte.hof.racing/index.html |title=Labonte will drive No. 96 for Hall of Fame in 2009 – 14 January 2009 |publisher=Bbs.cid.cn.nascar.com |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714154201/http://bbs.cid.cn.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/01/13/blabonte.hof.racing/index.html |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The Ask.com car debuted in the 2009 Bud Shootout where it failed to finish the race, but subsequently returned strongly, placing as high as 5th in a March 1, 2009, [[Shelby 427]] race at [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]].<ref>[http://www.ask.com/nascar/2009-Shelby-427-race#results
</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Internet
}}
* [[Comparison of web search engines]]
* [[List of search engines]]
* [[List of search engines by popularity]]
==References==
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