Yahoo beta tests new search results concepts in India

By Tim Conneally | Published May 9, 2008, 6:15 PM

When a query is entered on Yahoo's Glue Pages, search results -- whether text, image, or video -- all turn up on an organized single page. It's an idea that's turning heads, and it's showing up first on Yahoo's Indian domain.

Currently, topics related to health and medicine, sports and entertainment, travel, technology, and finance yield results on these Glue Pages, which entered beta earlier this week.

For example, a search for "world bank" is headed by its Wikipedia definition, and followed by two vertical columns entitled "Answers" ("How did the World Bank emerge?" and "Who are Knight Templars?") and "Images." Beneath that heading, a "YouTube" category provides 3/4 sized video windows pertaining to the World Bank. The left hand column of the page displays traditional search results, including sponsored links.

A search for 'World Bank' on Yahoo India turns up a completely laid-out information page.

The new results page was developed by Yahoo's Indian team at its key research center in Bangalore. Different sources gave different answers as to the future of Glue Pages. A spokesperson in the United States said there are no plans to bring Glue Pages anywhere outside of India, while Yahoo's senior vice president Tappan Bhat said if the beta is successful, then the pages will be rolled out in other countries. An official Yahoo statement to BetaNews is pending.

Comments

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There's just way too much information on that page. Pay attention to the leader in search (Google). Just KISS dammit.

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In april 2007 Yahoo Australia released a search product called 'Alpha' that does pretty much the same thing... so 'Glue' is not exactly a new idea, not even for Yahoo.

http://au.alpha.yahoo.com/search/web?p=world+bank

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Not a bad idea... add map + main site link headers like contact us, download, tech, site map, etc.

I do insist on keeping very separate the main results & ad / pay links.

Now, in no way are these comments intended as any type of endorsement for Yahoo... not in the least bit.

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Yahoo - Glue. They really hit it out of the ballpark with those catchy names. Glue - Schmue, use Clusty instead.

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Clusty sounds like Krusty.

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