New search engine could rival Google, Yahoo
Jimmy Wales, the founder of the Web encyclopedia Wikipedia says his planned Internet search engine, Wikiasari, could rival Google and Yahoo. He told the Times of London that his search engine, planned to launch with Amazon.com, will use the same user-based technology as Wikipedia. The commercial version of the search engine will be developed through San Mateo, California-based Wikia Inc, with a provisional launch planned for the first quarter of 2007, he said. Wikiasari gets its name from "Wiki,' Hawaiian for "quick,' and "asari,' Japanese for "rummaging search.' In 2006, Wales said he secured multimillion-dollar funding from Amazon.com and a separate cash infusion from Silicon Valley financiers to finance Wikia projects.