Webaroo launches offline web search software in India; to be bundled in Acer laptops

Our Corporate Bureau
19 April 2006

Mumbai: Webaroo has announced the launch of a new software service that enables consumers to search web pages and view web sites without an internet connection, on their hand-held and laptop computers.

Webaroo features 'web packs' on a variety of subjects, such as news, sports and major global cities, including New York, London and Mumbai — each of which contains thousands of relevant web pages identified by Webaroo's algorithms. Users can also select and download web sites of their choice to save and search at leisure.

"The time is ripe for India to be a developer of global consumer brands, not just an outsourcing center," says Rakesh Mathur, CEO and co-founder, Webaroo.

Founded in 2004 by Rakesh Mathur, Brad Husick and Beerud Sheth, the company has two offices in the US and two in India. Of its 80 employees, only nine work outside India.

"We're thrilled to be located within the IIT incubator," concludes Beerud Sheth, CTO and co-founder. "We've been able to build a world-class team in an incredibly short time."

Acer, the world's No 4 branded PC vendor, plans to bundle the Webaroo software on its laptop PCs worldwide. Campbell Kan, head of mobile computing business unit, Acer Inc, says, "Acer believes that the new, powerful ability to search the web offline will bring tremendous advantages for consumers and business people We plan on incorporating Webaroo's software into Acer's mobile PCs."