Yahoo! Korea introduced an upgraded version of its Gugi search service (http://gugi.yahoo.co.kr) on November 3 giving users the option of sorting information by ratings and allowing greater use of natural language in search words. The upgrade features an Internet-based callback system for small businesses, which allows users to post their contact details for businesses that do not have a web page. Gugi's search results now include ratings and are integrated with specific information such as traffic, business hours and parking availability.
Yahoo! Korea Chief Executive Officer Lee Sung-il said that the market for local search is currently worth over 100 billion won ($89 million), that it's growing rapidly, and that Yahoo! Korea is working to expand its local search service to the mobile-phone sector, where users could be provided with local information through text messages.
Yahoo! Korea launched Gugi in July, enabling users to look for businesses or services by typing in a business description, street address or other key words. Match listings appear on a map and users can sort information according to distance, category and user ratings.
Yahoo! Korea plans to expand Gugi's database of businesses to 3 million by year's end from the current 500 000 and hopes to attract advertising revenue from small to midsize businesses, which do not have a strong online presence.
