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Uclue was an online fee-based research service that operated between February 28, 2007[1] and December 15 2017. [2]

At one time, Uclue employed researchers in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines. Uclue was able to provide research and translation in English, German, Spanish, Tagalog, and conversational French.[3]

Over 1000 people from six continents registered at Uclue as both clients and commentators.[4] Commentators were non-researchers who posted helpful comments on questions and answers.) As of May 2014, over 6,000 questions had been posted at Uclue.

Services

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Uclue provided answers to questions on Business, Genealogy, all the Sciences, Technology, Computer/Software Help, Health, and the Arts.[5] Questions range from high-level business research: "Research on the NGO sector,"[6] to locating equipment and other items: "Color NTSC video camera for low-light usage,"[7] to the quirky: "How to Amuse a cat."[8]

The fee range was $10 to $400, with customers selecting the fee based on the complexity and/or obscurity of the requested information. Customers were encouraged to use the lower end of the fee scale only for relatively simple questions.[9] Customers also had the option of tipping researchers.[10]

Origins

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Uclue's started after Google closed their Google Answers service to new questions on November 30, 2006. Tomi Poutanen, Yahoo's Product Manager for Social Search, set up a group discussion with former Google Answers Researchers (GARs)[11] to set up a similar service at Yahoo, but discussions soon fizzled.[12]

Computer programmer and former GAR Roger Browne (known as eiffel-ga at Google Answers) announced he was starting a new Q&A service, Uclue.[13][14] Startup of Uclue in Beta began on February 28, 2007, and the launch was publicly announced on March 7, 2007. Browne explained, "We were all saddened at the demise of GA, but we know there is a terrific need for a place where users can get fast, professional, high-quality research at a surprisingly low cost. Uclue is that place, and we're thrilled to announce that we're now in business".[15] As of May 2007, 37 former GARs had joined Uclue.[16]

In Computerworld's March 8, 2007 feature article on Uclue, Emily Moore (Uclue researcher "journalist") expanded on Uclue's mission, which is "to assist people who don't have the time to search for themselves, or don't know how to search, [or] how to get into the deep Web. . .The niche that Uclue fills is for quality detailed, comprehensive information. People are quite willing to pay for that."

Comparison of Uclue to Google Answers

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Uclue explained the differences in response to a question from Philipp Lenssen of Google Blogoscoped. (Lenssen is a former GAR known as j_philipp-ga): Question: How does Uclue compare to Google Answers? [17][18]

Business model

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Uclue founder Roger Browne explained Uclue's business model in his answer to the question "Uclue itself":[19]

"The financial basis for the business is straightforward. The income comes from question fees and tips. A few percent are lost due to payment processing costs. Of the remainder, 100% of tips and 75% of question fees goes to the researchers, and 25% of question fees goes to the service where it pays for hosting, software development, software maintenance, administration, marketing, legal expenses, etc. ... Apart from software development, the other costs are roughly proportional to question volume. Therefore, in the long term, once the software development costs are amortized, the business is financially sustainable at any size - large or small."

References

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  1. ^ Nancylynn-ga (2007-06-14). "nancylynn-ga's research: Many of Your Favorite GARs are Back at Uclue!". nancylynn-ga's research. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  2. ^ "Welcome to Uclue". 2018-03-16. Archived from the original on 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  3. ^ Nancylynn-ga (2007-06-14). "nancylynn-ga's research: Many of Your Favorite GARs are Back at Uclue!". nancylynn-ga's research. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  4. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  5. ^ "Browse Categories". Archived from the original on 2007-03-17. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  6. ^ "Question: Research on the NGO sector". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  7. ^ "Question: Color NTSC video camera for low-light usage". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  8. ^ "Question: Amusing a cat". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  9. ^ "(See "What Price Should I Set for My Question?")". Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  10. ^ "(See "Can I Tip the Researcher?")". Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  11. ^ Yahoo Answers to Ex-Google Researchers: Come Play With Us
  12. ^ "Answers Marketplace: Google Folds, Yahoo! Explodes, and Helium Rises," by Parry Social, Jack Myer's Media Village, December 04, 2006: http://blogs.mediavillage.com/bloom/archives/2006/12/answers_marketp.html Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine See paragraphs: "While there was a real sense of community on Google Answers, researchers were frustrated that the upper limit of a transaction in GA was $200..." And: "Since the Google announcement, Yahoo!'s Poutanen has taken the initiative to set up a Yahoo! group for ex-GARs to float a trial balloon of how Yahoo! might best use their expertise…" "Jack Myers Media Village". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ Web Owls » Blog Archive » A new paid research service?
  14. ^ "Ex-Google Answers Researchers Launch New Q&A Site": http://www.vivavip.com/go/w12511
  15. ^ VIP Wire: Ex-Google Answers Researchers Launch New Q&A S Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Google Answerers, a tally – librarian.net". 2 May 2007. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  17. ^ Google Answers Shuts Down
  18. ^ " I'm a contractor for Google Answers as Researcher j_philipp"
  19. ^ "Question: Uclue itself". Archived from the original on 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
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