AskMe.com Expert Advice Now Available on AutoWorld.com
1 May 2000
AskMe.com Expert Advice Now Available on AutoWorld.com; Over 60,000 Experts Available to Answer Questions On Car Buying, Financing, Repair and More
SEATTLE--May 1, 2000--AskMe.com(TM) (www.AskMe.com, formerly XpertSite.com) today announced that AutoWorld.com, the leading automotive information guide on the Internet, has joined the AskMe Network(TM), a new service for integrating person-to-person question and answer (Q&A) into third-party Web sites.The partnership gives AutoWorld.com's users access to hundreds of experts in auto buying and selling, maintenance, car audio, antique autos, sport utility vehicles, and vehicle safety, as well as more than 60,000 people answering questions in 2,000 other categories.
AskMe.com, which was recently selected by Media Metrix as one of the top five fastest growing sites on the Internet, provides Q&A services to Web sites worldwide through the AskMe Network. The Q&A service gives users access to thousands of professionals, hobbyists, and everyday people who share their knowledge and life experiences. To ask a question, users simply click on the "Ask an Expert" button and either type in the subject of their question, or go directly to one of more than 2,000 categories to select an expert. Each expert's profile is listed, along with his or her background and user rating. In addition, users can browse each expert's previously answered questions, see how many questions the expert has answered to date, and view the expert's average response time. When the expert answers, an e-mail directs the user back to AutoWorld.com to pick up the answer.
"Next to buying a new home, a car purchase is one of the most expensive, and most intimidating experiences most buyers have," said Udai Shekewat, co-founder of AskMe.com. "AutoWorld.com users can now get real answers from real people, asking them questions about the advantages and disadvantages of a specific model of automobile, repair problems, and even questions about how to get a good deal on financing, all without leaving the AutoWorld.com site."
The co-branded site offers personalized advice on everything from information on the latest in alternative fuel vehicles to how to negotiate with a salesman. In fact, the question and answer format of AskMe.com is perfect for a complex automotive question such as: "We currently have a Dodge Caravan, but need something bigger because we have four growing kids. What models can you recommend that are larger than the Caravan, are affordable, and rated well in terms of reliability and safety?"
"The partnership with AskMe.com gives our users access to the largest and most popular Q&A service in the world, containing a wealth of information about automobiles and the car buying process," said Paul Meek, Sr., president of AutoWorld.com. "By creating a co-branded Web site with AskMe.com, we can offer our users personalized service and access to a expert advice that has been previously unavailable to car buyers and enthusiasts."
By joining the AskMe Network, Web sites can eliminate the cost and technical complications of building their own Q&A functionality. The AskMe Network provides back-end technology that allows Web sites to customize and transparently integrate the AskMe.com Q&A service into the look and feel of their Web site, providing users with easy access to thousands of experts worldwide and a database of more than 575,000 previously answered questions. To date, more than 25 leading Internet companies, including Go2Net, Infonautics Electric Library and Encyclopedia.com, GameZone.com and Hardware.com have joined the AskMe Network to power their Web sites with person-to-person Q&A. Additional partnerships will be announced in the near future.
AskMe.com was founded under the name XpertSite.com in July 1999 by a group of former Microsoft executives, and has rapidly grown to over 80 employees. The first version of the Q&A service was released for market evaluation in early September 1999, and the Web site was officially launched under the new name, AskMe.com, on March 20, 2000.
About AskMe.com
AskMe.com is the industry leader in the rapidly growing field of online, Web-based advice. The AskMe service, which is available on both AskMe.com and AskMe Network partner sites, allows people to ask questions of real people in more than 2,000 subject categories. Founded by former Microsoft executives, the privately held company is based in Seattle, Washington, and is backed by a who's who of industry professionals, including second-generation Internet entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and former executives from industry leading companies such as Microsoft and Amazon.com. For more information, please visit http://www.askme.com. For partnership inquiries send e-mail to bizdev@askme.com.
AskMe.com and the AskMe Network are trademarks of AskMe.com.
Links referenced in this press release: PC Magazine five star rating: http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2455336,00.html