Ansearch, the search engine division of Optum Limited (ASX: OPM), has signed a two-year partnership agreement with Overture Services, a provider of essential online marketing services to distribute its pay-per-click (PPC) advertising on the Ansearch search engine www.ansearch.com.au.

Beginning 31 March, 2005, Ansearch will join Overture's Australian distribution network which currently includes Yahoo! Australia & NZ, ninemsn, Fairfax Digital, News Interactive, Mooter, OptusNet and Ozemail.

Ansearch is Australia's newest search engine which launched in October 2004 and is still in its development phase.

The agreement with Overture will see PPC advertising appearing on the Ansearch search engine from March 31, 2005. Ansearch's director of sales, Josh Edis, says PPC advertising will be one of a number of core revenue streams for Ansearch in 2005.

"Working with Overture will introduce the Ansearch brand to a potential global audience of over 100,000 advertisers. Overture's paid search advertising solution is an ideal fit for Ansearch, and will compliment our additional advertising solutions to be launched from April 2005. This agreement gives Ansearch cost efficiencies, our advertisers a good return on advertising spend, and will deliver revenue straight to Ansearch's bottom line. Our alliance with Overture will help to grow the search market in Australia and has all the key ingredients for a successful commercial partnership," said Edis.