Ask Jeeves has joined the desktop search race and introduced its beta desktop search application. The product is available free for download.

Jim Lanzone, senior VP of search properties at Ask Jeeves said, "Ask Jeeves Desktop Search will complement our recently-introduced MyJeeves personal search service and is an important step in our personalization strategy. We look forward to receiving feedback on the beta release, as we continue to develop the product in line with people's needs."

Earlier this week Microsoft released its desktop search suite and Google released its free desktop search offering in October. The Ask Jeeves beta tool includes computer indexing, support of MS Office, text files, MS Outlook e-mail messages, image, music and video files. Users can define how much they want the desktop search to index and with what speed.

Ask Jeeves said it expects to add new functionality prior to the formal launch of the product in 2005. Some of these features include expanded support for Outlook, integration of desktop results and Web search results, and PDF support. A Feedback menu is provided directly on the application interface to make it easy for users to submit comments and requests for new features.