GeoCities Debuts Redesigned Interface

In a move aimed at improving navigation and enabling easier access to content, Internet community site operator GeoCities today announced a series of site enhancements including a new user interface and topic pages.

In addition, each GeoCities Homesteader will now receive 11 megabytes of disk space instead of 6 megabytes, and GeoPlus premium service members now have access to 25 megabytes of space, up from 20 megabytes, for the $4.95 monthly fee.

The new interface will carry 14 interest group categories, or “GeoAvenues,” into which each Web site from the company’s reported 1.9 million members will be packaged. Among these areas are Business & Money, Computer & Technology, Entertainment, Family & Kids, Sports & Recreation, and Women. Each GeoAvenue links to relevant topic pages as well as news headlines, current event chat rooms, and GeoCities services such as shopping and polls.

GeoCities also said that each Homesteader-created page will now feature a digital watermark button that links users back to the previously accessed Topic and GeoAvenue page.

Newly incorporated branded content providers in various GeoAvenues include
ZDNet, ESPN SportsZone and Women’s Wire.

“These new features will encourage our Homesteaders to visit us more
frequently, and entice Internet users to make GeoCities a daily destination,”
said Thomas R. Evans, CEO, GeoCities. “The improved interface was designed to make it much easier for users to find the content they are looking for as they navigate the millions of pages of user-published content.”

In mid-June, Santa Monica, CA-based GeoCities filed for an initial public offering hoping to generate approximately $72.45 million.