New Search Engine 'iAsk' Incorporates Web Search, News Search, Local Search,
Image Search, Knowledge Search And Other Various Search Functionalities
SHANGHAI, China, June 30 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SINA Corporation
(Nasdaq: SINA), a leading online media company and value-added information
service provider for China and for global Chinese communities, today announced
that it has launched its self-developed algorithmic search engine, ''iAsk.''
After one year of intensive self-development, iAsk represents a break through
in online search technology by combining the conventional web search algorithm
method with SINA's own differentiated indexing technology. Leveraging SINA's
existing diverse portfolio of online portal and mobile resources, iAsk intends
to provide Chinese Netizens with the most comprehensive and relevant search
results.
iAsk, offers knowledge-based and community-based search in addition to the
standard web-based search. While maintaining the power of traditional
algorithm technology, SINA iAsk offers an added bonus of users' interactivity
with a unique Q&A platform. iAsk categorizes search subjects into areas of
news, pictures, music, knowledge, and video and allows users to input key
words and questions of their interests. iAsk then ranks sites partly by
subject-specific popularity, clusters results into subject groups, and lists
related link collections by experts. SINA iAsk also features an ''express
zone'' that filters all past information and data collected by SINA on the
subject being searched. In addition, SINA iAsk offers personalized features
such as search by local content (maps, entertainment and travel) and archival
of personal favorites. iAsk is designed to work with both the Chinese and
English language queries.
''As China's largest online portal, we are well positioned to become the
dominant player in the online search market in China,'' said Wang Yan, CEO of
SINA, ''We have one of the largest online traffic and 'stickiest' online users
in China. Combined with those are our vast online and mobile resources. I am
confident that the introduction of iAsk will go a long way towards enhancing
the online community experience of our users and cementing our online media
leadership in China.''
About SINA
SINA Corporation (Nasdaq: SINA) is a leading online media company and
value-added information service (VAS) provider for China and for global
Chinese communities. With a branded network of localized web sites targeting
Greater China and overseas Chinese, SINA provides services through five major
business lines including SINA.com (online news and content), SINA Mobile
(mobile value-added services), SINA Online (community-based services and
games), SINA.net (search and enterprise services) and SINA E-Commerce (online
shopping and auctions). Together these units provide an array of services,
which include regional focused online portals, mobile value-added services,
search and directory, interest-based and community-building channels, free and
premium email, online games, virtual ISP, classified listings, fee-based
services, e-commerce, and enterprise e-solutions.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. SINA may also make
written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission on forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, etc., in its
annual report to shareholders, in its proxy statements, in its offering
circulars and prospectuses, in press releases and other written materials and
in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third
parties. SINA assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements
in this release and elsewhere. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks
and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results
to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, SINA's
historical losses, its limited operating history, the uncertain regulatory
landscape in the People's Republic of China, the effect of the notice issued
by SARFT in late January 2005 on the Company's revenues from usage-based SMS
products promoted via direct advertisement on radio and television, the
Company's ability to develop and market other usage-based SMS products,
fluctuations in quarterly operating results, the Company's reliance on mobile
value-added service and online advertising sales for a majority of its
revenues, the Company's reliance on mobile operators in China to provide
mobile value-added service, the changes in January 2005 by China Mobile to its
billing process for undelivered MMS services and the effect of such changes on
the Company's MMS revenues, the migration by China Mobile of MMS onto MISC
platform and the effect of such migration on the Company's MMS revenues, any
failure to successfully develop and introduce new products and any failure to
successfully integrate acquired businesses. Further information regarding
these and other risks is included in SINA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004 and its recent reports on Form 10-Q as well as in
its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE SINA Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.sina.com
CONTACT:
Chen Fu, Investor Relations, SINA
Corporation, +86-21-6289-5678 x6089, or fuchen@staff.sina.com;
Denise Roche of The Ruth Group, +1-646-536- 7008, or
droche@theruthgroup.com for SINA
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