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Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

Founded

IAC Search & Media (formerly Ask Jeeves, Inc.) was founded in 1996 in Berkeley, California by David Warthen, CTO and veteran software developer, and Garrett Gruener, venture capitalist at Alta Partners and founder of Virtual Microsystems.


Company Profile

IAC Search and Media delivers world-class information retrieval products through a diverse portfolio of Web sites, portals and downloadable applications. IAC Search and Media's search and search-based portal brands include: Ask.com, Ask for Kids, Bloglines, Evite, Excite, iWon, FunWebProducts and MyWay. IAC Search and Media is a wholly-owned business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI). It's headquarters are located in Oakland, California, with offices throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia.


Headquarters

555 12th Street, Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94607
tel: (510) 985-7400
fax: (510) 985-7412


Management Team

Dominic Butera
Chief Financial Officer
Paul Gardi
Chief Executive Officer, IAC Advertising Solutions
Scott Garell
Chief Executive Officer, IAC Consumer Applications & Portals
Jim Lanzone
Chief Executive Officer, Ask.com
Jon Brod
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Portals
Dan Caul
General Counsel
John Park
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Toolbar Properties

Timeline of Events:


  • February 2006, Ask Jeeves re-launched as Ask.com; Company becomes IAC Search & Media
  • In August 2005, Ask.com's AJinteractive partnered with IAC Partner Marketing to form IAC Advertising Solutions.
  • In July 2005, Ask Jeeves, Inc became a a wholly-owned business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI)
  • In May 2005, Ask continued its efforts to improve its core search technology with the launch of Zoom and Web Answers
  • In April 2005, Ask.com continues its International expansion with the launch of Ask España
  • In February 2005, Bloglines is aquired
  • In December 2004, the Company moved its headquarters from Emeryville to Oakland, CA
  • In September 2004, Ask.com became the first major search engine to offer a personal search system with the launch of MyStuff
  • In August 2004, Ask.com partnered with CitySearch to offer an enhanced local search product and continued its international expansion by launching a beta search offering in Japan, Ask.jp
  • May 2004, the Company's acquisition of Interactive Search Holding is completed, adding a diverse portfolio of websites, portals and desktop applications, all with search as their foundation
  • Stock performance during 2003 spoke volumes to the turnaround of the company, ranking as the 51st best-performing stock out of 3229 companies on the NASDAQ, and the 7th best performing stock in the Bay Area for 2003
  • November 2003, Steve Berkowitz is named CEO
  • Ask launched its first national print advertising campaign in over two years in August of 2003 with the help of its agency, TBWA\Chiat\Day
  • April 2003, Ask.com launches its widely heralded Smart Searches, intuitive new search tools and functionality that are designed to help people conduct more satisfying and efficient searches
  • January 2003, the Company announces its first profitable quarter for Q4 of 2002 and adds Spell Check technology to Ask.com
  • October 2002, Ask.com discontinues all pop-up and pop-unders. The company soon after, removed all banners from Ask.com
  • Summer 2002, the Ask Toolbar is introduced
  • In September 2001, Teoma Technologies is acquired. In December of that year, the algorithmic search is integrated into Ask.com, resulting in an immediate 25% increase in user satisfaction
  • December 2000, Skip Battle is named CEO
  • November 2000, the Ask.com introduces its online shopping advisor channel
  • May 2000, Ask.com adds related search functionality
  • March 2000, secondary public offering commences and Ask.com advances to the 15th most visited site in Media Metrix
  • January 2000, DirectHit Technologies is acquired
  • December 1999, Ask International launches with a joint venture to establish Ask.co.uk (currently Ask.com UK). The site officially launches in February of the following year
  • November 1999, Ask.com rises to #31 in Media Metrix Top 50, marking a 404% growth since January of that year
  • October 1999, Ask.com reaches 2 million searches a day
  • July 1999, the Company completes its IPO, the 3rd most successful first day performance in history (at the time) and kicked off its first national advertising/branding campaign
  • In January of 1999 Ask began answering 700,000 searches a day and was up to 1 million searches by May and 2 million by October of the same year.
  • October 1998, Ask.com reaches 300,000 searches per day and signs its first syndication deal with Alta Vista
  • February 1998, Ask Jeeves for Kids (Ask for Kids) launches
  • April 1997, Ask.com officially launches
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