America Online Delivers Next Wave in Consumer Convenience with Expanded AOL Search.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2003 -- New Built-In "Audio and Video" Search and Local Search Provide More Complete Search Experience for AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. (R) and AOL(R) for Broadband Members -- Company Acquires Singingfish, Inc. to Advance Audio and Video Search Capabilities and Provide Comprehensive Index of Streaming Media See streaming audio, streaming video and digital media hub. Content As part of its continuing effort to give members the most comprehensive online search experience, America Online See AOL. , the world's leading interactive services company, today launched a dynamic new set of features for the popular AOL(R) Search service. The expanded AOL Search service now includes an integrated "Audio and Video" search feature that makes it easier for members to find audio and video content, including streaming media, from across the Web, as well as on-demand and exclusive media content available through the AOL(R) and AOL(R) for Broadband services See broadband and broadband service provider. . AOL Search also introduced a preview version of its personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. "In Your Area" feature built upon AOL's extensive local services for business listings, entertainment and events. The new feature lets members search for localized Translated into the spoken language of the country. See localization. results in cities where they live, work and travel across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . AOL members can simply type in search queries such as, "restaurants," "plumbers" or a specific movie title and find relevant listings near their location indicated by zip code zip code System of postal-zone codes (zip stands for “zone improvement plan”) introduced in the U.S. in 1963 to improve mail delivery and exploit electronic reading and sorting capabilities. . These features join the recently launched AOL News Search feature, which brings up-to-the-minute news from a variety of leading sources to members searching on topics of interest. In support of AOL's efforts to expand beyond text-based search and provide "Audio and Video" search capabilities, the Company also announced today its acquisition of Seattle-based Singingfish, Inc., the leading provider of audio and video search services. Singingfish's products include the largest index of streaming media content. They complement the integrated AOL Search features available on the AOL service and advance the search capabilities of the AOL for Broadband service. "With the millions upon millions of Web sites and the wide variety of content available online today, consumers have become more savvy searchers. As a result, they need sophisticated tools to help them easily find exactly what they're looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. online," said Jim Riesenbach, Senior Vice President, AOL Search and Directional In one direction. Contrast with omnidirectional. Media Group. "By introducing enhanced local search and audio/video search, AOL is now offering the most comprehensive suite of search offerings, providing our members with the industry's richest array of search functionality." Mr. Riesenbach added, "Singingfish is the market leader for audio and video Internet content search, offering easy access to an extensive index of streaming media files. We are extremely excited that they are now part of the AOL Search team and will be helping to create compelling and unique search experiences for AOL members. With the universe of streaming media continuing to grow, Singingfish's technology is the most compelling solution for providing consumers with ways to go beyond text in their search results. I look forward to continuing our efforts to expand, enhance and innovate in·no·vate v. in·no·vat·ed, in·no·vat·ing, in·no·vates v.tr. To begin or introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time. v.intr. To begin or introduce something new. upon the search applications and services that AOL currently offers." Karen Howe, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Singingfish, said: "We are very pleased to be able to build on the success we've achieved so far, extending the utility and functionality of Singingfish's audio / video search technology as part of America Online. As the leader in online interactive services, AOL fully understands the power of delivering the best products based on consumer needs." AOL also recently launched new enhancements to the Video@AOL service that make it even easier for AOL for Broadband members to access, search, play, share and store news, sports, entertainment, finance, autos, music, movies, TV, games and living videos available on the service at no additional charge. Video@AOL is a premier, one-stop, on-demand video destination. Together with built-in safety and security features, advanced communication tools, custom spam filters A software routine that deletes incoming spam or diverts it to a "junk" mailbox (see spam folder). Also called "spam blockers," spam filters are built into a user's e-mail program. , and "anywhere, anytime" AOL features, Video@AOL makes AOL for Broadband the most complete broadband experience that can be added to any basic cable or DSL connection DSL connection n (Comput) → DSL-Anschluss m . "There's no better way to enjoy streaming media than on AOL for Broadband," said Shawn Hardin, Senior Vice President of Broadband for America Online. "AOL for Broadband is focused on putting our members powerfully in control of their high-speed online experience and providing industry-leading solutions for members to pursue their interests through both our enhanced search and with the best video programming available anywhere through Video@AOL, including on demand news, movie trailers, music, sports highlights and much more." AOL Search - Staying Ahead of "What's New" in Online Search Audio and Video: The amount of audio and video content online is exploding, with streaming media growing an estimated tenfold tenfold Adjective 1. having ten times as many or as much 2. composed of ten parts Adverb by ten times as many or as much Adj. 1. every six months. The number of people who watch or listen online also has grown substantially. About 50 million Americans report using Internet audio See RealAudio. or video in the previous month, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a July 2003 Arbitron survey. As a result, demand for richer search capabilities is growing, particularly among the expanding ranks of high-speed Internet See broadband. users. Over three quarters of AOL and AOL for Broadband members use AOL Search each month, with increased frequency reported by members on a high-speed connection. The introduction of the new "Audio and Video" search lets AOL provide its members with an unmatched ability to search and preview the most extensive catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. of audio, video and streaming media content from across the Web as well as the on-demand and exclusive content available through the AOL for Broadband service. Members can refine their results by choosing "Audio Only" or "Video Only" results. And they can sort results by categories such as News, Music, Sports, and Finance. In addition, a built-in filter helps block inappropriate content. Local Information: Online searching with a local intent is on the rise, as more and more people turn first to the Internet to find the information they need. Nearly half of AOL members who sign on in a given month use local content, and having local information at their fingertips "Fingertips" is a 1963 number-one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number-one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States. is one of their top requests. AOL's preview version of its new "In Your Area" Search is a one-stop resource, giving members a convenient place from which to find information on local businesses, entertainment, shopping, and travel in cities across the country. With one search, members can find locally relevant results aggregated from AOL's leading local services - including 13 million listings within AOL Yellow Pages; restaurant and entertainment listings from AOL City Guide, the nation's largest and fastest-growing local online network; and information from the popular Moviefone(R) service, including trailers, showtimes and tickets. For added convenience, "In Your Area" Search uses zip code information members already have on file with AOL. Members can personalize per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. multiple "In Your Area" Search settings, for their city as well as any city across the country. "In Your Area" Search builds on the growing popularity of the AOL Yellow Pages service, which has seen usage increase 180% in the last 0year. In addition to relevant local business listings from AOL Yellow Pages, the new "In Your Area" search feature will also offer directions, ratings from member experiences, and one-click transactions for hotel reservations, restaurant reservations, and tickets for businesses and events throughout the U.S. Google Plus: As part of its full-service experience, AOL Search delivers Google(TM) search results plus a powerful layer of uniquely relevant, timely, localized content and programming from across the Web and the best of the AOL and AOL for Broadband services. This value-add layer is programmed by AOL Search editors to provide a smarter and more intuitive online search experience to help AOL members find what they are looking for faster and more easily. AOL Search has programmed more than one million of these value-added results packages based on frequently searched topics. Hot Searches: To help members track what's hot online at any given moment, AOL Search offers a new "Hot Searches" feature that lists popular search topics on the AOL service in real time. Available at AOL Keyword: Hot Searches and updated every 12 seconds, Hot Searches lets members quickly find and access topics that are gaining in popularity among AOL members. Members can browse a range of topics or select topics from a single channel, such as Music, Movies, Companies & Finance, Entertainment & Celebs, Games, and Health. Members can also find out what search terms were most popular in the last hour or the last 24 hours. News Search and Other Enhancements: Recently, AOL also launched a News Search feature, which delivers timely and relevant results for breaking news, business, entertainment and sports stories from a variety of trusted news sources. AOL also recently incorporated an Advanced Search option to help members fine-tune their queries by searching by specific words, languages, file formats and more. Availability The new "Audio and Video" and "In Your Area" search features are the latest navigation tabs to be included on the integrated AOL Search service. AOL Search is accessible at AOL Keyword: Search, as well as from a number of convenient entry points on the AOL service, including the AOL Client toolbar A row or column of on-screen buttons used to activate functions in the application. Many toolbars are customizable, letting you add and delete buttons as required. Toolbars may be fixed in position or may float, which means they can be dragged to a more convenient location in the , the Welcome Screen, contextual links within content and programming areas, as well as from the AOL(R) Companion, which allows members to find information online quickly when using another application. An electronic press kit for today's announcement can be found at www.aolepk.com/search. About America Online, Inc. America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia Dulles, Virginia is an unincorporated census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The headquarters of AOL, Orbital Sciences Corporation and ODIN technologies and the former headquarters of MCI Inc. are located in Dulles. , America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. |
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