Jeeves in the offing for internet search engine - News - Gadgets & Tech - The Independent

Ask.com has shelved its three year re-branding drive and will today re-launch as AskJeeves.com.

The group is bringing back the fictional butler – created by PG Wodehouse in his series of Jeeves and Wooster novels – who fronted the search engine when it was first launched in 1997. The move came after Ask found that most users better recognised the original branding. The re-branding to Ask Jeeves will only be in the UK.

“Jeeves was brought back after popular demand from those who wanted a more personalised touch and a more British feel to search engines,” the company said.

Ask Jeeves’ managing director Cesar Mascaraque said the group has overhauled the look of the site, speeded it up and tailored the search results more strictly. Ask currently has about 15 million unique users per month in the UK and is the tenth most popular website.

Most Viewed
Most Shared
Most Commented

SPONSORED FEATURES

Free trial of new Independent iPad app

Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines

Atlantic Canada Posh Nosh Prizes & offers

Business videos

Win a three-week coastal jaunt

Spend three weeks exploring every nook and cranny of gorgeous Atlantic Canada.

iPad app Posh Nosh Prizes & offers

Business videos

Amazing restaurant offers

Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.

iPad app Atlantic Canada Prizes & offers

Business videos

Latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

iPad app Atlantic Canada Posh Nosh

Business videos

Commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

iPad app Atlantic Canada Posh Nosh

Prizes & offers

Jobseekers
Recruiters

No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency

Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Meet the former soldier who has joined the political prisoners he tortured in Turkey's Mamak prison by suing the generals who led a regime of terror

The local high street jet shop

The local high street jet shop

Got a spare $50m and can't stand the queues at Heathrow? Get yourself down to London's first private plane dealership

Do you like your doctor? It could be the death of you

Do you like your doctor?

It could be the death of you...

The mysterious affair of how Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

How Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

Twenty of the author's novels have been adapted and presented with learning notes and a CD

Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career

Six Grammys, five years off

Adele puts love before career

The 10 Best binoculars

The 10 Best binoculars

From no-frills to bins with digital cameras

Milan for £300?

A cultural family holiday - on a budget - to Italy's most stylish city

'Black-hole' resorts: Turn up, tune out, log off

'Black-hole' resorts

Turn up, tune out, log off

New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

Remodelled since winning in Milan in 2008, for all their consistency – and prize-money – Wenger's side are yet to claim a European title

James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

City would be putting their desire to win title ahead of morals if Tevez plays for them

Mark Cavendish: Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?

Mark Cavendish interview

Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets

Peter Moore: 'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'

Peter Moore interview

'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'