Yahoo India Answers launches 'Ask the Planet'

Mumbai, Jan 14: Excited on getting overwhelming response from itslatest offer 'Ask the Planet (ATP) series from other parts of theworld, Yahoo India Answers today extended the series for India.

Briefing reporters here, Yahoo India MD George Zacharias said,''Often people want to know opinions of others on a particular subjectthat concerns them before making their own decisions and this productcomes as its answer''. The forum will provide a platform to answer someof the most important questions we face today, he added.

Giving an example, he said that if one asks the population ofBorondi, the reply will be only one. However, if you want to know whatyou would like to do for making your five-year old wiser one, then youwould seek opinion from various sections of people concerned you knowand our new product provides such kind of forum for you.

At the launch of the service in June last year, well-knownscientist, Dr Stephen Hawking had asked ''How can the human racesurvive for next 100 years''? Surprisingly, 28,000 answers were postedon the website to reply the answer.

With a view to popularise its new initiative, Yahoo! India haslaunched 'Ask the Planet' series for a period of six weeks under whichprominent figures will post questions around globally pressing issuesfor the collective, knowledge of the Yahoo! Answers community, heinformed.

First such question was posted by none other than the President DrAPJ Abdul Kalam himself who wants to know ''What should we do to freeour planet from terrorism?''. It will be followed by new questionsevery week from Indian luminaries on varied subjects includingeducation, health, law and enforcement, sports and society.

The company has roped in some 6-7 eminent persons from the countryas 'achievers' to post questions for the initiative. Mr Zacharias saidthat unlike other search engines who have got panels of people for thepurpose, we have thrown it open to the commonman.

To take part in the campaign, you need to have an e-mail Id onYahoo, he said Director of Yahoo! India Search, Rishi Bahalsaid,''Initially we started this service for 25 cities of the country,but soon it would be introduced in the entire country''.

Currently the service, which has already been introduced in 16foreign languages of the world, it has been made available in Englishfor the country which will soon be extended to various other languagestoo, he said.

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