Ask Jeeves sells Enterprise Division

By Steve Malone

Posted on 29 May 2003 at 11:27

Search provider Ask Jeeves has sold its Enterprise Software Division, Jeeves Solutions, to the US based customer service solution provider Kanisa for a total of $4.25 million. $3.5 million is to be paid upfront in cash with the remainder as an IOU to be paid in a year's time.

Jeeves Solutions, which offers natural language search solutions for corporate intranets seems to be a natural fit for Kanisa which specialises in customer service systems. On the other hand, the Enterprise Division is seen as 'non-core' by Ask Jeeves, which says it is now going to concentrate solely on its Web-based search business.

In truth though, the price and the fact that the division has just 40 accounts indicates a business going nowhere particularly fast. With competition and consolidation in the search business hotting up, Ask Jeeves probably saw Jeeves Solutions as an un-necessary distraction.

The deal is expected to be finalised in July.