Ask plots local search mash-up

Ask.com is set to unveil a new local search service in the US that lets people find maps, directions, businesses, events and movies - all through one interface.

The service, called AskCity, integrates data from other web properties owned by InterActiveCorp (IAC), including Citysearch.com for business reviews, Fandango for movie ticket purchases, OpenTable.com for restaurant reservations and TicketMaster for event tickets.

Cheat Sheets

♦ Web 2.0
♦ Mash-ups

Users can narrow their restaurant searches by cuisine type, neighbourhood, street name or zip code, as well as book a reservation through the site and send information to a phone. Users can also plot out routes to multiple destinations, make annotations directly on the map, save it and email to others.

Doug Leeds, vice president of products at Ask.com, said: "This is the first time we've done a real integrated channel with Ask and other IAC properties."

The service is launching as competition with other search engines on mapping features heats up. The search site will eventually integrate data from other IAC properties such as Evite, Match.com and RealEstate.com, and further down the road, Gifts.com, Leeds said.

Elinor Mills writes for CNET News.com