• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, June 15, 2009

Co-creators Felix Ekenstam and Per Persson describe Spezify.com as a tool rather than a search engine because the site doesn't index results, but rather taps into information and feeds that have been indexed. The two created the site as a side project.

Content pulls through application programming interfaces (API) from Amazon.com, Yahoo, eBay, MSN and Twitter. The goal is to pull indexed content from hundreds of sources. Results are from the top 10 to 50 lines in queries from each site. Searchers can click on a related word in the results to dig deeper into the content of the query.

Ekenstam and Persson, both based in Sweden, created the tool after searching -- yet not finding -- an engine that aggregated content from multiple sites. Simultaneously, Yahoo released their BOSS API, which became the platform to support Spezify.com's search results.

The site doesn't pull content from Google because the Mountain View, Calif. search engine has design rules for the use of their content. "Google doesn't allow you to change the order of the search results," Ekenstam says. "Anyone can use the APIs we use. I really see the power in combining all the sites."

The next step is to add APIs to pull sound and music results, as well as expand the photo results, which the two hope to offer more modes to view the content based on user preference.

Organizing the content has been a challenge. Some people leaving feedback through email messages about the site's performance want more structure. The focus is on the user interface -- aesthetically pleasing, rather than the core technology of a search engine. The site will expand with additional ways to view the content. Today, people have an option to turn on and off specific APIs to limit or expand results. They also can narrow the search to images, text or video.

Spezify.com isn't for people who know what they want to find, Ekenstam says. It's more of a discovery tool to find content they didn't know existed, or gain inspiration from topics.

"We want to push the envelope for how to find and present information, a more intuitive approach that hopefully will extend the function of search from mere use to entertainment, overview and sometimes even surprise," Persson says.

The site generates revenue from affiliate programs with content providers, but Ekenstam and Persson are considering different models. The service will remain free.