PicoSearch Launches New Hosted Search Service for Large Scale Internet Retail and Enterprise Web Sites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PICOSEARCH LAUNCHES NEW HOSTED SEARCH SERVICE FOR LARGE SCALE INTERNET RETAIL AND ENTERPRISE WEB SITES

Optional Categorization and Taxonomy Features Offer Quick and Easy Navigation of Unlimited Web Pages

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - July 11, 2005 - PicoSearch, the pioneer and market leader in advanced hosted search services, today introduced a new service plan for large scale Internet retail and enterprise web sites. The new Platinum service plan is designed to support web sites from tens of thousands to millions of pages with greater control over searchable content. The Platinum plan also offers optional categorization and taxonomy management features that equip large scale web sites with a powerful navigation tool for directing site visitors to the most relevant information.

"The new PicoSearch Platinum plan delivers a highly scalable, customizable hosted search solution at an affordable, zero maintenance cost," said Carl Schroeder, director of Search Technologies, PicoSearch. "We are pleased to expand our service offering to meet the needs of enterprises with larger web sites that are looking to implement sophisticated search capabilities without investing in additional resources."

Alternative site search solutions require the purchase of additional hardware and software as well as extra manpower to maintain the system infrastructure. With PicoSearch, enterprises can quickly, easily and affordably incorporate search capabilities into their web site simply by signing up for the hosted search engine service, eliminating the added burden and expense of IT equipment and resources. PicoSearch handles all the back-end work necessary to host and maintain a site search system. Its advanced technology is capable of processing searches of unlimited page volumes, and its high-capacity server facility keeps customer’s hosted engines up and running at high speeds twenty-four hours a day.

In addition to large scale site search capabilities, the new PicoSearch Platinum service plan gives customers the option of adding unique categorization and taxonomy features. This search functionality allows customers to define a set of topics that allow site visitors to drill deeper into online content to find exactly what they are looking for within specific pre-set categories. For example, if an online retailer offers a broad range of electronics products, it can offer customers the ability to search across general topic areas such as televisions, audio equipment or home appliances. Once a search is performed within the home appliance category, for instance, PicoSearch’s customized control features enable the online shopper to continue to search within specific categories of interest such as microwaves, refrigerators or dishwashers. These directive searches help lead the site visitor to the precise information they need rather than wasting time sifting through excess information.

The PicoSearch Platinum service plan also offers the option of utilizing XML to deliver search result feeds rather than HTML. An XML feed separates data from the way it is displayed to site visitors. This allows customers to control the manner in which results are presented and tailor the search result page to suit their needs.

"Whether a buyer, market researcher or potential investor, web site visitors are seeking results fast. Enterprises with large scale web sites need to offer a navigation tool that narrows down information within a few quick and easy steps. The new categorization and taxonomy features available with the PicoSearch Platinum plan give users more choices to dig deeper within search queries and retrieve precise results in seconds," added Schroeder.

Andy Plata, President and CEO of OutputLinks.com, has been using PicoSearch’s hosted search services for more than four years. OutputLinks.com serves as a portal for members of the high volume transaction output (HVTO) industry who are looking for news articles, reports, whitepapers and product information related to their market. The company recently upgraded to PicoSearch’s latest Platinum service plan.

"PicoSearch is a critical tool that adds incredible value to our site," said Plata. "It provides the launching point for OutputLinks.com visitors to navigate through more than 600 web sites of more than 200,000 pages of industry-specific content. PicoSearch gave us a customized solution to fit our needs. Our visitors can search within sub-topic areas, like the people section, photo section, or within an archive of articles written by a particular columnist, to zero in to the specific information they need. Without PicoSearch, they would have to trudge through hundreds of irrelevant search results from global search engines. Now they can go to OutputLinks.com to find only the industry-specific information they need."

Pricing & Availability
The PicoSearch Platinum Service Plan is available today starting at under $10,000 per year.

About PicoSearch
PicoSearch is the pioneer and market leader in advanced hosted search services for quickly, easily and cost-effectively integrating search capabilities into any web site. PicoSearch’s patented technology offers an affordable, no maintenance, high-quality approach to site search without the need to purchase or install additional hardware or software equipment. PicoSearch gives businesses and Internet retailers of all sizes a fast and easy way to incorporate effective search capabilities into any web site. PicoSearch allows full control over searchable pages and additional search analytics tools to monitor customer traffic, allowing businesses to make more informed decisions and ensure site visitors are directed to the most accurate, relevant information. For more information please contact 1-617-547-4020 or visit http://www.picosearch.com/contactus.html.

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