Guest comment: Big change for Ask, big battles for Microsoft

Also-ran search engine Ask has seen some changes over recent years, including a $2.3 billion acquisition by Barry Diller and the name change from Ask Jeeves (which necessitated the loss of corporate mascot Jeeves the butler). But as far as changes go, this is a biggie.

In a dramatic about-face, Ask.com is abandoning its effort to outshine Internet search leader Google Inc. and will instead focus on a narrower market consisting of married women looking for help managing their lives...With the shift, the Oakland-based company will return to its roots by concentrating on finding answers to basic questions about recipes, hobbies, children’s homework, entertainment and health.

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