Google released enhanced search tools that let companies sift through as many as 30 million documents kept on networks or websites.
Google Inc. lately announced a new version of the “Google Search Appliance” that offers increased search capacity of up to 30 million documents, and consisted of a combination of hardware and software and supported 16 languages including Chinese, French, Spanish, Korean, and Japanese, the Mountain View, California, company said.
“The increased capacity comes via a software upgrade that also includes search query enhancements.” The 30 million document capacity is included as part of the largest Google Search Appliance, and requires no customization. “Larger capacities are available upon request from Google.”
New functions included being able to use dates or number ranges such as prices to restrict search results, according to Google.
The Google Search Appliance, introduced in 2002, is an integrated hardware and software search appliance used by thousands of organizations to find and share information on corporate networks or websites, according to Google, which offered custom versions to handle more extensive searches.
The software upgrade is available to Search Appliance owners with an active support plan. All owners get access to the search query enhancements, but they have to pay extra if they want additional capacity.
The Search Appliance model that can index up to 30 million documents is the GB-8008, the line’s most advanced. Google does not disclose its price but its 30 million document configuration can cost "in the high six figures," said Matthew Glotzbach, head of products for the Google Enterprise unit.
The intermediate model, the GB-5005, has a 10 million document capacity, while the entry model, the GB-1001, starts at US$30,000 and can index up to 3 million documents.
Although the off-the-shelf GB-8008 now has a maximum capacity of 30 million documents, Google can make the product index more documents through custom configurations. "We can easily do a 100 million document system," he said.
In addition to the higher search capacity, the new Google Search Appliance also offers new advanced search functions, such as:
- Date Range Search: With this upgrade, all Search Appliance models have gained the ability to limit search results by a date range. People can search for terms (such as "product information") and restrict results to a range of dates (such as between: Jan. 1, 2006 to Sept. 1, 2006).
- Number Range Search: The Search Appliance now also can narrow search results by number range. People can search for terms (such as "DVD player") and request results for a certain number range (such as between: $100 to $500). This might be useful for e-commerce companies, so they can let their customers find products within a specific price range.
The new Google Search Appliance also offers international administrative interfaces and documentation in the following 16 languages: Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swedish.
The purchase of a Search Appliance includes a 2-year support plan, which in turn includes software updates and telephone technical assistance.
Google also has a smaller search device called the Google Mini, aimed at departments and small and medium-size businesses, as well as an enterprise desktop search application. Google competes with vendors like Autonomy Corp. PLC and FAST Search & Transfer ASA in the enterprise search market.
For more information about Google business search products, please log on to http://www.google.com/enterprise.