Google Answers – Discontinued

I just learned from Dan at Jenkins (and then from Search Engine Watch) that Google Answers is being discontinued.

Google Answers lets you post a question that you want answered by any one of Google’s 500 screened researchers. You specify a price that you are willing to pay for the information, starting at $2.50. Once your question is answered it is added to the database so that others can browse or search it for free. You can also rate the response.

The service never took off. People just don’t want to pay for information. (Which is why membership libraries such as Jenkins have to beg for members.)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 at 11:24 am and is filed under Search/Search Engines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Google Answers – Discontinued”

Dave Hook Says: November 29th, 2006 at 8:16 pm

I’m not surprised that Google Answers failed. This sort of thing was tried years ago with InfoRocket and some other ventures (unfortunately I can’t remember any names at this time). They all went nowhere. It’s hard to compete when libraries offer better services for free.
Dave Hook Says: November 29th, 2006 at 9:16 pm

I’m not surprised that Google Answers failed. This sort of thing was tried years ago with InfoRocket and some other ventures (unfortunately I can’t remember any names at this time). They all went nowhere. It’s hard to compete when libraries offer better services for free.
Nicole Says: November 30th, 2006 at 5:01 am

I totally agree!!
Nicole Says: November 30th, 2006 at 6:01 am

I totally agree!!