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The Future of Federated Search

Image of Dan Penny

Author: Dan Penny, Affiliate Analyst

Federated search goes beyond searching the open web "a la Google" to include subscription-based content in a variety of databases. For information providers, being part of a federated search is valuable as it puts their content in front of workers when they need it. This report examines the different facets of federated search, how it has evolved, and whether Google and other open-web search engines can be disruptors in this area. It provides:

- A definition of federated search and its relationship with enterprise search;
- Examples of 12 companies providing federated search, including revenues, number of employees, and products offered;
- Data on the time knowledge workers spend using external information;
- Analysis of the advantages of federated search, and why federated search players do not view Google as a threat;
- Essential actions for publishers and information providers that want to benefit from federated search.

Pub Date: July 17, 2007
Pages: 17
Format: PDF Application_pdf

Table of Contents

  • Why This Topic?
  • What Is Federated Search?
    1. Users
    2. Pricing and Players
    3. The Importance of Integrated Access to Internal and External Content
  • Federated Search Players Not Threatened by Google
    1. Google Not Viewed as a Threat
  • The Advantages of Federated Search
    1. Analysis of Content
  • Conclusions – Why Federated Search Is Not Likely to Vanish
  • Essential Actions

    • Tables & Figures

  • Figure 1. Federated Search and Its Relationship with Enterprise Search
  • Figure 2. Elsevier’s Engineering Village User Interface
  • Table 1. Companies Providing Federated Search
  • Table 2. Hours Spent Using External Information
  • Figure 3. Surface Web: Tip of the Iceberg
  • Figure 4. Users’ Time Spent Gathering and Analyzing Information
  • Table 3. Use or Planned Use of an Enterprise Integrated Search Engine

    • Companies Mentioned

  • Autonomy
  • Business Objects
  • Endeca Technologies
  • Ex Libris
  • Fast Search & Transfer ASA (FAST)
  • Fretwell-Downing Informatics
  • ISYS Search Software
  • Mondosoft A/S
  • MuseGlobal
  • Open Text Corporation
  • Thunderstone Software
  • WebFeat