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Strategies & Market Trends : Rande Is . . . HOME -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rande Is who wrote (8894)	7/1/1999 12:15:00 AM
From: Rande Is	Respond to of 57584

Ask Jeeves search engine IPO set to debut Wednesday June 30, 2:44 pm Eastern Time NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - Question-answering search engine Ask Jeeves Inc. (Nasdaq:ASKJ - news) is set to go public on Thursday, with an increased price range and a Web search product that could distinguish itself from the rest of the pack, analysts said. The Ask Jeeves prospectus says the company's mission is to ''humanize the Internet.'' Its Web site (http://www.ask.com) allows users to search for information by asking ''natural-language'' questions, such as ''Who is Alan Greenspan?'' or ''Where can I find information about the euro?'' Then Jeeves, a butler cartoon character, directs the user to several relevant sites that answer the question. ''It's going to be a hot deal ... this really is a unique way to navigate on the Web,'' said Paul Bard, an analyst with Renaissance Capital's IPO Plus Aftermarket Fund (Nasdaq:IPOSX - news). ''It offers everyday users of the Internet an easier way to get through all the fluff that's out there. It guides them to the most beneficial information.'' The Berkeley, Calif.,-based company is expected to offer three million common shares, with a range of $12 to $13 per share through lead underwriter Morgan Stanley. The price range was raised Tuesday from $9 to $11 per share. The proposed ticker symbol is ASKJ on Nasdaq, the company prospectus said. Investment risks include the short life of the company (the Web site was launched in April 1997), a history of losses, and whether the novelty of the question-answering search engine can translate into profits. The company generates revenues primarily through Internet advertising, and also by licensing its navigation services and selling its question-answering service to corporate customers. Ask Jeeves hopes to generate future revenues via electronic commerce and by directing users with shopping questions to particular merchants. The proceeds from the IPO will be used for brand promotion and general corporate purposes.