Yellow Pages Group (YPG) has released a beta of a new online search platform that allows users to obtain structured results with unstructured queries.

The new search engine enables users to perform intuitive searches with keywords like products, brands or even landmarks, with results structured according to the needs expressed in usability studies.

New features include a keyword search box that lets users query with multiple keywords, brands, phone numbers and more; a location search box that allows users to search by landmark, region, postal code and more; and a "Did you mean?" feature that detects and corrects spelling errors that lead to ambiguity.

Marc P. Tellier, president and CEO of Yellow Pages Group, says "YellowPages.ca has truly become a 'find' engine and will enable us to consolidate our leadership position in the area of local search."

Says Neal Polachek, senior vice president, The Kelsey Group: "For Canadians, it ups the ability for them to evolve their businesses from print to the online world. In Canada, they have end-to-end coverage of their country. The company with a lot of advantages could have sat still but they chose not to and have taken the initiative to redefine their user experience. Yellow Pages Groups wants to be thought of as the place for local information."