Represents First Time Web Users Can Access Geographic and Local Content
Information With a Single Smart Search
SAN FRANCISCO and DENVER, Dec. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- WebCrawler(TM), one of the most popular search services on the Internet, and MapQuest Publishing Group, a business unit of GeoSystems Global Corp. and the leading provider of interactive mapping on the Web, today announced a partnership to offer consumers WebCrawler Maps, a more accessible and intuitive means for locating city information on the Web. WebCrawler's smart search process is now fully integrated with MapQuest(TM) (http://www.mapquest.com) interactive maps, enabling users to access city maps for over 22,000 US cities with keyword search results. While other search services offer interactive maps, only WebCrawler (http://webcrawler.com) has integrated the mapping function directly into keyword results.
"WebCrawler's alliance with MapQuest is part of our overall strategy to help our users find 'just what they're looking for' by anticipating consumer needs and delivering more intuitive results to their search queries", said Adam Hertz, director of product development for WebCrawler. "Instead of making users find our mapping feature, we've integrated it with our smart search process. It's like building in reliable serendipity."
"WebCrawler is a valuable new partner for MapQuest," said Perry Evans, president of MapQuest Publishing Group. "WebCrawler will help introduce many Web consumers to the power of interactive mapping as they search destinations in the U.S. Through our alliance, we've opened a new dimension to navigating the Web and targeting consumers for advertising. This highlights the true power and value of interactive mapping."
The new service offers a unique marriage of geographic and content-based information to search engine users. Whether planning travel itineraries, job hunting or researching a relocation, consumers can streamline their searches and gain deeper geographic context and understanding.
When a WebCrawler user enters a word(s) into the standard query box, the search engine automatically matches the entry against a MapQuest place-names database. If a word matches a map-enabled city name, the keyword results page will include a hypertext link to a MapQuest map of that specific city along with traditional WebCrawler search results.
Once in the map view, which is embedded within the WebCrawler site, users can zoom down to a street view or up to state or national views. They can also pan to browse areas beyond the city as well as pinpoint street addresses with a "Find an Address" feature. To explore the destination more fully, users can jump directly from WebCrawler into the MapQuest site and interact with a large database of local/regional places of interest (POI) information.
WebCrawler has also created WebCrawler geo-banners, a geographically intelligent advertising program utilizing MapQuest's place-names database. This is one of the most innovative ad products available on the Web, allowing advertising to be more relevant to consumers by providing regional context as defined by Nielsen Designated Marketing Areas (DMA's). Charter advertisers signed on to take advantage of the new geo-banners include Chase Manhattan Bank and Southwest Airlines.
About MapQuest Publishing Group
MapQuest Publishing Group is a business unit of GeoSystems Global Corp., the information publishing industry's leading supplier of geographic information products and services. Receiving over three million hits daily, MapQuest (www.mapquest.com) is the most popular interactive mapping service on the Internet and is among the top sites worldwide for daily traffic. Both Java- and ActiveX-enabled, MapQuest is a dynamic Web site that offers consumers the ability to search for over three million locations worldwide, find businesses, obtain driving directions and travel information. MapQuest Publishing Group offers a range of business services for Internet publishers that want to integrate interactive maps, routing and travel planning into their Web sites.
About WebCrawler
WebCrawler is one of the highest trafficked sites on the Internet and was the first full-text search service available on the Web. WebCrawler is available at http://webcrawler.com or for AOL members at keyword: WebCrawler. WebCrawler offers a simple and intuitive interface, yet delivers extremely high quality results with state-of-the-art technology. For recommendations on the best the Web has to offer, users simply type in the subject they wish to search, or browse WebCrawler Select(TM) for high-quality, editorially selected starting points.
This announcement is the first since Excite, Inc. announced its agreement with America Online, Inc. to acquire the WebCrawler search and directory service by early 1997.
About Excite
Based in Mountain View, Calif., Excite Inc. is the leading Internet navigation network. Excite Inc. services include Excite Search (http://www.excite.com), Excite Reviews (http://www.excite.com/reviews), Excite City.Net (http://city.net), Excite Live! (http://live.excite.com), Exciteseeing Tours (http://www.excite.com/), WebCrawler (http://webcrawler.com), and Magellan Internet Guide (http://www.mckinley.com). Excite Inc. has strategic relationships with America Online Inc., Tribune Company, CUC Investments Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and Netscape Communications Corp.
NOTE: MapQuest is a trademark of GeoSystems Global Corp. Excite and WebCrawler are trademarks of Excite, Inc. All other company, brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
SOURCE GeoSystems Global Corp.
-0- 12/30/96
/CONTACT: Joan Blake, Communications Manager of MapQuest Publishing Group, 303-312-0218, jblake@mapquest.com; or Nicki Dugan, Account Associate, Niehaus Ryan Group, 415-827-7062, nicki@nrgpr.com, for MapQuest; or Adam Hertz, Director of Product Development of WebCrawler, 415-356-5446, adam@webcrawler.com; or Bill White, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, of Excite, 415-943-2882, bwhite@excite.com/
CO: GeoSystems Global Corp.; MapQuest Publishing Group; WebCrawler; Excite
Inc. ST: California, Colorado IN: MLM SU: PDT
RB-KW -- SFM003 -- 7478 12/30/96 08:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
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