Start-up Local Matters debuts search service

A start-up headed by the founder of Mapquest unveiled technology this week that will allow Internet users to easily narrow their local Internet searches, do comparison shopping and create itineraries and driving directions with integrated maps.

Local Matters, based in Denver, will sell its "private label" technology to yellow pages providers, newspapers and local media companies that want to offer local search listing services on their online directory Web sites, said Chief Executive Perry Evans. The technology will appear on customer Web sites toward the end of the year, he said.