MediaPost reports that Ask’s entrance into the space is imminent, Diller hinted as much earlier this year a the D Conference.
Currently, Google powers sponsored listings on Ask Jeeves. Reportedly, Ask Jeeves’ paid search will look similar to Google’s system. It primarily will be based on keyword bidding, but with some measure of relevance, such as click-through rates, factored into the advertiser’s ultimate cost. The minimum bid will reportedly start at 5 cents.
Ask Jeeves’ sponsored listings likely will co-exist with Google’s, at least for the time being. Google’s contract to power sponsored listings on Ask Jeeves doesn’t expire until 2007.
I’m pinging sources to try to flesh this one out.
Update: I have it on very good authority that this report is accurate, in the main.
I think last month Ask became the default search engine for iWon.com, a property of theirs. Since iWon had a Google ad deal before, it either looked like they didn’t want the Google money anymore, or would have Ask deliver paid search results as well.