AOL makes acquisition as search competition intnesifies
19 November 2003
AOL has acquired Singingfish, a multimedia search engine that provides access to audio and visual files from across the internet.
The major American ISP also announced additional features to the AOL Search service, to coincide with the news of its new acquisition.
The announcement of AOL's purchase comes during a crucial period in the development of commercial internet search services.
Yahoo's purchase of Overture, Google's movement towards flotation (and rumours surrounding a possible takeover from Microsoft), and Microsoft's beta testing of a search engine this week all point to a maturing of the market, with the big players consolidating their interests in readiness for a battle.
AOL search and directional media group vice president and group general manager Jim Riesenbach denied, though, that the company wants its own search to the exclusion of others.
Rather, he said the company's policy would be to make acquisitions in technology where necessary, but to continue its policy of partnering with others:
'Our strategy has been to work with the best of breed partners, and we still think the partnership strategy makes sense.
'Where AOL has unique assets, we think it makes sense to own some of the capabilities, as we've done with Singingfish.'
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