As a result of last week’s hiring of Inktomi Corp. to provide its search functions, America Online, Inc. is testing a new search engine that may replace keyword searches with more comprehensive functions throughout AOL and its properties.
According to published reports, the two firms are working together to update AOL’s search after the portal terminated its previous search partner, Excite. The two companies are now competitors in the portal sector because of @Home’s recent acquisition of Excite and AOL’s acquisition of Netscape Communications.
Called AOL Search, the service is scheduled to launch in the fall, and will combine AOL content with content found throughout the Web, as well as have the ability to search photos and multimedia elements and conduct queries in foreign languages, the companies stated.
The new service will be available on several brands including AOL, AOL.COM, Compuserve and AOL’s international properties.
An America Online spokeswoman told CNET’s News.com the service marks a redesign of AOL’s overall search function. The company could not be reached for further comment on the service.
