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15 years in the Internet world is like 100 and Ask.com is like a 100 today. It is their 15th birthday and they have really come full circle.
From starting as a question and answer service to getting into web search and then going back to a question and answer service.
It has been a hard 15 years with ups and downs. I won't point out all my very harsh criticism of them on their birthday, that would not be nice. You can simply scan the Ask.com category if you wish.
I like how Greg Sterling summed it up:
- July 1999: Ask Jeeves goes public
- March 2005: IAC buys Ask Jeeves for $1.85 billion
- February 2006: Jeeves the Butler goes into retirement
- April 2006: Steve Berkowitz, head of Ask.com, leaves to join Microsoft. Jim Lazone named CEO of Ask
- June 2007: Lanzone launches innovative Ask 3D UI, which other engines copy to varying degrees
- January 2008: Lanzone is out as Ask CEO, Jim Safka replaces him but later leaves
- April 2009: Jeeves the Butler returns in the UK
- July 2009: Doug Leeds takes over as CEO of Ask
- July 2010: Ask embraces “social search” (Q&A) and establishes current strategy
A very happy birthday Ask.com and wishing you another 15 years!
If you want a larger version of the Ask.com background today, click here.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
