WebProNews

Ask.com has added a new feature to its search engine homepage designed to help online shoppers find the best deals on the Web.

The IAC owned property has introduced "Ask Deals," a proprietary database of more than 1 million savings offers from national and local retailers across hundreds of product categories.

The Ask homepage now features a new tab labeled "Deals" for users who only want to view the best offers online. The Ask Deals database is continuously updated to provide users with the most current savings offers.

Ask Deals is powered by the company's proprietary "Deal Detector" technology, which uses Ask's search technology to scan online promotions, store circulars, and around 40 coupon sites.

The Deal Detector also searches user-generated content on forums, message boards, and blogs to find popular deals people are sharing with each other. Ask Deals filters out low-value, invalid, and expired offers.

"In a tough economy and with the holidays approaching, Ask Deals arrives at just the right time for consumers as a one-stop shop for value. It's the answer our users are looking for, too, since searches for coupons on Ask have shot up almost 50 percent in 2009," said Scott Garell, President, Ask Networks.

"Ask Deals saves consumers time and money through relevant, high-quality savings built right into our unique Ask search results page. By introducing our 'search stimulus package' with Ask Deals, we aim to lift a burden for consumers and make a meaningful impact in their lives."