FT.com Increases Traffic by 150 Percent Enhancing Customer Experience with Fast Search Technology

13/10/2006 - 11:23

Fast Search & Transfer(TM) (OSEAX: FAST.OL) (FAST(TM)), the
leading developer of search technologies, today announced that FT.com
has selected the FAST Enterprise Search Platform (FAST ESP(TM)) to
replace its previous search technology. The deployment of FAST ESP has
resulted in FT.com immediately increasing search traffic by 150
percent, improving successful user searches by 50 percent and
enhancing the speed and relevancy for 5,000,000 online customers each
week. In collaboration with FAST, FT.com has successfully completed
its initial plan to transform site performance and real-time indexing
to drive additional subscriptions and advertising revenues.

"We chose FAST because our rigorous market tests proved they have
the best search technology. FAST is the only provider that can satisfy
our ambitious plans to enhance the customer experience, maximize the
value of our vast content archive and provide greater contextual
intelligence for our advertisers at the same time," said Lee
Wilkinson, head of business products, Financial Times.

In July 2006, FT.com made some initial changes to the search
product using FAST, the impact of which saw usage more than double.

"It was a highly positive experience to receive such a dramatic
increase in click-throughs so quickly. Instantly users were getting
exactly what they wanted, which will help ensure their loyalty to
FT.com," said Wilkinson.

FT.com views FAST as a long-term strategic partner and has
utilized FAST's proven deep domain expertise through this key
transitional period to provide a secure footprint for the future. The
final enhancements of this initial project will go live in November,
2006.

"We are delighted that FT.com has joined the wave of global media
companies selecting FAST search technology to transform their existing
business model in a proactive move to protect their content and
revenue streams from external forces such as Google and Yahoo," said
John M. Lervik, chief executive officer of FAST. "It is exciting to
watch a company take such innovative steps to change the game in their
industry."

About FAST

FAST is the leading developer of search technologies that are
behind the scenes at the world's best known companies with the most
demanding search problems. FAST's flexible and scalable enterprise
search platform (FAST ESP) elevates the search capabilities of
enterprise customers and connects people to the relevant information
they seek regardless of medium. This drives revenues and reduces total
cost of ownership by effectively leveraging IT infrastructure. FAST's
solutions are used by more than 2,600 global customers and partners,
including America Online (AOL), Cardinal Health, CareerBuilder.com,
Chordiant, CIGNA, CNET, Computer Associates, Dell, EMC Documentum,
Factiva, Fidelity Investments, Findexa, IBM, Knight Ridder,
LexisNexis, Merrill Lynch, Rakuten, Reed Elsevier, Reuters, Sensis,
Stellent, Tenet Healthcare, Thomas Industrial Networks, T-Online, US
Army, Virgilio (Telecom Italia), Vodafone, and Wanadoo.

FAST is headquartered in Norway and is publicly traded under the
ticker symbol 'FAST' on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The FAST Group
operates globally with presence in Europe, the United States, Asia
Pacific, Australia, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. For
further information about FAST, please visit www.fastsearch.com.