¡¡¡¡SAN DIEGO, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at DEMOfall 07, Exalead?, a global provider of search software for business and the Web, introduced BAAGZ(TM), the first service to bring together semantic search and social networking in a powerful, yet simple, consumer-friendly experience. BAAGZ fosters a collaborative environment where users can connect with others on the Web who have similar interests - whether hobbies, travel, music or news - to share and enhance this content with new ideas, in effect contributing to the expansion of the Semantic Web.

    At the foundation of BAAGZ (www.baagz.com) is an ultra-powerful Web search engine based on Exalead''s patented Semantic Web search technology, Search By Serendipity(TM), which is already available at www.exalead.com. However, BAAGZ is much more than a search engine. It is a new form of social network that represents the first live network of shared interests. These shared interests are characterized by the public content contained within individual folders, called baagz, that act as shortcuts to your favorite Web sites, articles, pictures, videos, RSS feeds and notes.

    "BAAGZ represents more than a decade of R&D and aims to capture the very essence of what is referred to as Web 2.0," said Francois Bourdoncle, founder and chief executive officer of Exalead. "We''ve applied our expertise in search and user interfaces to the elements of sharing, personalization and social networking to allow people to use the Web as a place to find information and people with similar interests or goals, or are experts in a given field or subject."

    Until now, there were only three ways to find useful information on the Web: through a search engine, by bookmarking favorite Web sites, or verbally through face-to-face conversations with friends and family. With BAAGZ'' simple, integrated user interface, it''s easy to store and organize the content that interests you most in a format that can be easily retrieved, shared and searched by you and other users, or "baagerz," as you choose.

    Build Your Own "baagz"

    Once a registered user, it''s easy to begin creating your own baagz. Simply type a topic or search query into the search box and instantly connect to content from various Web data sources, including Exalead''s Web, Video, Image and Wikipedia vertical search applications. You can then populate your baag with relevant Web pages and content, or your own personal content.

    All of your baagz are automatically saved to your personal homepage so they can be quickly accessed to retrieve the information contained within and also continue to grow as new, relevant content becomes available. If you choose to make your baag public, its contents can be searched by other users, or by you, all from a single search box.

    Easily Stay in Touch with Your baagz and Others'' baagz

    Leveraging Exalead''s expertise in indexing the Semantic Web, BAAGZ uses its semantic description of every Web site stored in a baag to determine what a given baag is about - whether or not a given Web site is specifically tagged by baagerz. The system then uses this knowledge about every baager to connect him or her to other baagerz with shared interests. The ability to immediately notify baagerz when something new and exciting appears on the network is the pulse of BAAGZ.

    In addition, BAAGZ allows its users to engage in real-time interaction with other users through innovative collaboration and communications tools. Through these tools and the central BAAGZ dashboard - the pulse of this live network - users can watch their own baagz evolve and grow through contributions from others on the BAAGZ network, as well as those they have subscribed to that are managed by other BAAGZ users. As a result, users have a visual, interactive real-time content feed on their BAAGZ homepage and have an exciting environment to learn about their favorite hobbies and interests from other experts and fans around the Web.

    "BAAGZ fundamentally alters our view of what search is and does," said Chris Shipley, executive producer of the DEMO conferences. "BAAGZ combines the best of Web search and social networking to bring users a brand new way to interact with content and people."

    BAAGZ Now in Beta

    Along with the introduction of the new BAAGZ search service, Exalead announced a special by-invitation-only beta session. "Our goal for the private beta period is to give people an exciting chance to discover all that BAAGZ is and can be for them as well as to begin to build the multi-facetted social network that will serve to benefit our next phase of users or, as we like to call them, baggerz," Bourdoncle said.

    For more information or to request your invitation to the BAAGZ private beta, please visit www.baagz.com or stop by Exalead''s station, number 17, at DEMOfall.

    About Exalead

    Founded in 2000 by search-engine pioneers, Exalead is a global provider of search software for business and the Web. Based on the first and only unified search technology platform for desktop, intranet or Web search, Exalead''s products provide users with a single access point to information, regardless of format or location. Its patented Search by Serendipity(TM) navigation system adapts to user habits for a less frustrating and uniquely satisfying search experience. The exalead one:search(TM) line of software products - designed for desktop, workgroup, enterprise, datacenter and Web environments - are in use by leading banking and financial services, media, consumer packaged goods, research, retailing and telecommunications companies around the world. Exalead is an operating unit of Qualis, an international holding company, with offices in Paris, New York, San Francisco, Milan and Munich. For more information, please visit http://corporate.exalead.com.

    Exalead, BAAGZ and Search by Serendipity are registered trademarks or trademarks of Exalead SA. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact: Maureen Shaw Euro RSCG Magnet 212.367.6847 exaleadpr@eurorscg.com

    Source: Exalead
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