14th Apr 2008 07:00
Rambler Announces the Launch of Its New Hybrid Search Engine Rambler Media Ltd. ("Rambler"), operating one of Russia's most popular internetbrands, today announces the launch of the beta version of its new hybrid searchengine, available at http://beta.rambler.ru. The Beta testing process will allowRambler and its users to assess and enhance the new service before it replacesthe current search system on its homepage. The launch of Rambler's new hybrid search engine is part of the company'sstrategy to focus on the three areas that matter the most to internet users:search, communication and news. It is the first of several new products to berolled out by Rambler in 2008 and successfully combines universal horizontalsearch capabilities with a specialized vertical structure. From today, Rambler users can benefit from the new extended search capabilitieswhich allow them to search simultaneously not only the internet, but also onvertical information sites such as news, price comparison and product reviewsites, weather forecasts, job vacancies, maps, and horoscopes as well asWikipedia and Afisha. By making its search engine more open and structured, Rambler offers users ahigher level of relevancy and completeness in search results, which means thatthey will find what they want to find more quickly. The key idea behind Rambler's new search engine is meta-relevance. When a searchrequest is made, Rambler's new search system automatically determines the sphereof the user's enquiry and presents structured links to the most relevant searchresults in specialized information sources as well as traditional internetsearch results. In other words, the user gets comprehensive, localized,up-to-date information faster than with other search engines. New features of Rambler's hybrid search include the most relevant images toillustrate search results. Product research carried out in consumer focus groupshas demonstrated that users respond better to graphic results than just textresults on their own. In addition, the new search system is closely integrated with Rambler'scatalogue Top 100, which is one of Russia's most popular online navigationsystems, now allowing users to search through multiple categoriessimultaneously. Arkady Moreynis, Rambler's Chief Product Officer said: "Faced with the evergrowing volume of information on the internet, search engines around the worldhave to take on new challenges in the way they present relevant results to theirusers. It is vital for Rambler to keep abreast of the latest technologicaldevelopments. Then we can create the products that our users want most and willtherefore bring more traffic to Rambler.ru. Our new search engine is an exampleof just that kind of thinking. In the coming months, we plan to add furtherthematic sections and we will improve the underlying mathematical models whichcalculate relevance. This means that users will, in the future, get even betterresults, even faster. Our intention with the beta testing process is to involveour users more closely in product development. Rambler Search will become aplatform that showcases Rambler's new products and technologies and invitesfeedback and user testing". Mark Opzoomer, Chief Executive Officer of Rambler Media commented: "We aredelighted to announce the beta launch of our new search engine. It furtherdemonstrates that we are delivering results in line with our strategy to be openand to provide users with a gateway to the internet that responds to their needsthrough innovative products. We want to make Rambler Russia's favourite homepage and search is obviously a key element of that which will bring users toRambler every day. We will continue to enhance users' experience as we launchmore new products and services in the coming months." \* TFor further information, please visit www.ramblermedia.com or contact: Rambler Media Shared Value LimitedMark Opzoomer Nicolas DuperrierTel. +7 495 500 3826 Tel. +44 (0) 20 7321 5010 [email protected] ING Wholesale BankingDaniel Friedman / William Marle / Francis MooreTel. +44 (0) 20 7767 1000 \* T ABOUT RAMBLER MEDIA Rambler Media is an internet media and services group which operates or hasinterests in leading Russian language internet brands including the originalRussian internet homepage and search engine 'Rambler.ru', on-line newspaper'Lenta.ru', product comparison website 'Price.ru', internet catalogue andnavigation system 'Top 100', instant messaging service 'Rambler-ICQ', digitaladvertising agency 'Index20' and contextual advertising company 'Begun'. RamblerMedia's shares are traded on AIM, the junior market of the London Stock Exchangeunder the symbol 'RMG'. For more information on Rambler Media, visit ourcorporate website at www.ramblermedia.com. Copyright Business Wire 2008Related Shares:
RMG.L