Answers.com
Encyclopedia
Answers.com is an Internet-based knowledge exchange, which includes WikiAnswers
, ReferenceAnswers, VideoAnswers, and five international language Q&A communities. The Answers.com domain name was purchased by Bill Gross (of idealab, not of PIMCO) and Henrik Jones at idealab
in 1996. The domain name was acquired by NetShepard and subsequently sold to GuruNet. The website is the primary product of the Answers Corporation (previously GuruNet), an Israel
-based Internet reference and Q&A company with offices in New York City
and Jerusalem, founded by Bob Rosenschein
in 1999. The site supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Tagalog
. WikiAnswers is a community-generated social knowledge Q&A platform, using wiki-based technologies.
On October 2004 GuruNet had an IPO on the American Stock Exchange
under the symbol "GRU" and also acquired the Answers.com domain name early the same year for $80,000.
On January 2005 the company moved to a new business model of a free-to-customer product, Answers.com and 1-Click Answers software, containing practically all the content that was sold via subscriptions. The new model is based on generating advertising revenue.
On August 2, 2005, the company's shares started trading on NASDAQ
instead of AMEX
under the symbol "ANSW".
On October 17, 2005, GuruNet changed its corporate name to Answers Corporation, unifying the company's name and its website, Answers.com.
From 2005 to late 2009, the Google
search engine definitions feature, in the top-right corner of the site, was linked to Answers.com.
On July 2, 2006, Answers.com released a trivia game known as blufr
.
In the fall of 2009, Answers.com launched a revamped version of their website, which combined wiki-style contributions with expert resources.
At Jeff Pulver
's 140 Characters Conference in New York City in April 2010, Answers.com launched its alpha version of a Twitter
-answering service nicknamed 'Hoopoe.' When tweeting a question to the site's official Twitter account, @AnswersDotCom, an automatic reply is given with a snippet of answer and a link to the full answer page on Answers.com.
Aside from providing community-generated Q&A and reference information for published titles, Answers.com began offering videos as part of its VideoAnswers library, in July 2010. This was part of a partnership with video site 5min.
In September 2010, blufr
was relaunched with new design, game modes, and social features. It is available on the web and as an iPhone/iPod Touch app in the iTunes app store.
It was announced in November 2010 that the Answers.com Q&A wiki community reached its 10 millionth answer.
At the start of 2011, the site surpassed 11 million answers. Shortly after, on February 3rd, Answers.com announced in a press release that it had agreed to be acquired by AFCV Holdings for $127 million in cash. AFCV Holdings, LLC, is a portfolio company of growth equity investor Summit Partners
. Bob Rosenschein
was quoted: "The acquisition price of $10.50 per share represents a significant cash premium of approximately 33% over our 90-day volume-weighted average closing stock price."
WikiAnswers
WikiAnswers is an ad-supported wiki-based website where users can submit and answer questions.This site allows users to post and edit questions and answers. WikiAnswers.com uses wiki technology and fundamentals, allowing communal ownership and editing of content. Each question has a "living"...
, ReferenceAnswers, VideoAnswers, and five international language Q&A communities. The Answers.com domain name was purchased by Bill Gross (of idealab, not of PIMCO) and Henrik Jones at idealab
Idealab
Idealab is a business incubator based in Pasadena, California.-History:Idealab was founded by Bill Gross in March 1996...
in 1996. The domain name was acquired by NetShepard and subsequently sold to GuruNet. The website is the primary product of the Answers Corporation (previously GuruNet), an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
-based Internet reference and Q&A company with offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Jerusalem, founded by Bob Rosenschein
Bob Rosenschein
Bob Rosenschein is the founder and was CEO and chairman of Answers.com, formerly GuruNet, until May 2011, when it was bought by Summit Partner's AFCV Holdings for $127 MM ....
in 1999. The site supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
. WikiAnswers is a community-generated social knowledge Q&A platform, using wiki-based technologies.
History
GuruNet was founded in Jerusalem, Israel in 1999 to develop technology that intelligently and automatically integrates and retrieves information from disparate sources and delivers the result in a single consolidated view to the user. GuruNet initially displayed its information through a downloadable software product, today known as 1-Click Answers. The product was launched as a free product in 1999. Beginning in 2003 it was sold to users on a perpetual license base and later as an annual subscription.On October 2004 GuruNet had an IPO on the American Stock Exchange
American Stock Exchange
NYSE Amex Equities, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange is an American stock exchange situated in New York. AMEX was a mutual organization, owned by its members. Until 1953, it was known as the New York Curb Exchange. On January 17, 2008, NYSE Euronext announced it would acquire the...
under the symbol "GRU" and also acquired the Answers.com domain name early the same year for $80,000.
On January 2005 the company moved to a new business model of a free-to-customer product, Answers.com and 1-Click Answers software, containing practically all the content that was sold via subscriptions. The new model is based on generating advertising revenue.
On August 2, 2005, the company's shares started trading on NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
instead of AMEX
AMEX
AMEX, AmEx or Amex may refer to:*American Stock Exchange*American Express, a global financial services corporation*American Express Community Stadium, association football stadium in Brighton, England, currently sponsored by American Express...
under the symbol "ANSW".
On October 17, 2005, GuruNet changed its corporate name to Answers Corporation, unifying the company's name and its website, Answers.com.
From 2005 to late 2009, the Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
search engine definitions feature, in the top-right corner of the site, was linked to Answers.com.
On July 2, 2006, Answers.com released a trivia game known as blufr
Blufr
Launched on July 2, 2006, blufr was an online trivia game in which players had to decide if statements – called blufs – are true or false . After they chose their answer the correct answer was then displayed, along with links to relevant topics in Answers.com, the creator of the game...
.
In the fall of 2009, Answers.com launched a revamped version of their website, which combined wiki-style contributions with expert resources.
At Jeff Pulver
Jeff Pulver
Jeffrey L. Pulver is an American Internet entrepreneur known for his work as founder and chief executive of pulver.com. He has written extensively on the need to develop an alternative to government regulation of the applications layer of Voice over Internet Protocol telephony.-Biography:Jeff...
's 140 Characters Conference in New York City in April 2010, Answers.com launched its alpha version of a Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
-answering service nicknamed 'Hoopoe.' When tweeting a question to the site's official Twitter account, @AnswersDotCom, an automatic reply is given with a snippet of answer and a link to the full answer page on Answers.com.
Aside from providing community-generated Q&A and reference information for published titles, Answers.com began offering videos as part of its VideoAnswers library, in July 2010. This was part of a partnership with video site 5min.
In September 2010, blufr
Blufr
Launched on July 2, 2006, blufr was an online trivia game in which players had to decide if statements – called blufs – are true or false . After they chose their answer the correct answer was then displayed, along with links to relevant topics in Answers.com, the creator of the game...
was relaunched with new design, game modes, and social features. It is available on the web and as an iPhone/iPod Touch app in the iTunes app store.
It was announced in November 2010 that the Answers.com Q&A wiki community reached its 10 millionth answer.
At the start of 2011, the site surpassed 11 million answers. Shortly after, on February 3rd, Answers.com announced in a press release that it had agreed to be acquired by AFCV Holdings for $127 million in cash. AFCV Holdings, LLC, is a portfolio company of growth equity investor Summit Partners
Summit Partners
Summit Partners is a growth equity investment firm focusing on a wide array of transactions from leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations to growth capital, venture capital investments, and mezzanine capital....
. Bob Rosenschein
Bob Rosenschein
Bob Rosenschein is the founder and was CEO and chairman of Answers.com, formerly GuruNet, until May 2011, when it was bought by Summit Partner's AFCV Holdings for $127 MM ....
was quoted: "The acquisition price of $10.50 per share represents a significant cash premium of approximately 33% over our 90-day volume-weighted average closing stock price."
Staff
- Robert S Rosenschein, chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer
- Mark TebbeMark TebbeMark Tebbe is the Vice-Chairman of the Board and Lead Director of Answers Corporation, formerly GuruNet, which operates . Mr. Tebbe currently serves as the chairman of the company's Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of its Compensation Committee.Mr. Tebbe is an Operating...
, board member - Steven Steinberg, chief financial officer, secretary
- Bruce D Smith, chief strategic officer
- Jeff Schneiderman, chief technical officer
- Gil Reich, vice president, product management
Site statistics
As of December 2010, the site had the following ranking:- Unique monthly visitors 52.3 million in the USA and 86.8 million world wide
- Rank in top Web properties:
- #20 in the USA
- #33 worldwide
External links
- Official site
- Official Answers.com blog
- 1-Click Answers
- 1-Click Answers Wikipedia Edition for Windows
- Blufr.com
- Answers Web Provided By: CompiTHelp.com