Yahoo launches Yahoo! India Answers

Mumbai, Apr 25 (UNI) Yahoo! India has launched a free community based search engine that lets users ask questions and get answers from real people on any topic.

From home repairs to vacation spots, from consumer products to the best remedy in common cold, Yahoo! Answers everything.

At the launch of Yahoo! India Answers today, Mr Neville Taraporewalla, Country General Manager said, '' This is mining knowledge of other people. It is different from standard forums or message boards or blogging sites. This allows us to tap into this entire community to provide a better search through people. In the month of March, Yahoo! had about 482 million users.'' The Indian product will not only plug into the global platform operating on yahoo.com, but also allow for a full range of Indian content with categories like local business and Indian taxation system. This allows Yahoo users in India to benefit from the collective wisdom of Yahoo's global community while addressing local requirement as well.

This service compliments Yahoo's web search by providing another source of information based on real life experiences and opinions of people. It is called ''Human Knowledge Search Engine''.

Rishi Behal, Head of Search at Yahoo said, '' Yahoo will screen the content and ensure that all abusive, defamatory or obscene content is removed from the website. The users also have an option to report posts which they feel are inappropriate.'' Any registered Yahoo user can post a question on the Yahoo! Answers and let the other users provide the answers. To drive participation, the service is on a system of points. Queries cost points while voting on best answers and providing answers generates new points.

Yahoo! India Answers is accesible from the front page of Yahoo! India - www.yahoo.co.in or from the URL: http://in.answers.yahoo.com UNI LS RL VP2113