New Look at Infoseek.com Delivers Faster, Easier Navigation
Extensive directory of reviewed Web sites, easy navigation, and faster interface give users great improvements to their favorite search tool
Sunnyvale, Calif. - (September 24, 1998) - Infoseek Corporation (Nasdaq: SEEK) today announced a dramatic redesign of its site to give users a combination of manually-reviewed Web sites and Web search results together, make navigation easier and more effective, and increase the overall performance of the site. The new directory collection is one hundred percent manually edited to give users the best of the Web in one organized, highly-functional format not found on the Web today. More efficient use of images and programming code allows pages to load faster, improving the speed of the site and users' ability to find information quickly.
"The Infoseek brand stands for finding what you want on the Web more accurately, easily, and comprehensively," said Barak Berkowitz, vice president of marketing at Infoseek. "Infoseek's new design delivers on that promise in a new way with a consistency and clarity we believe users will respond to immediately. The introduction of this redesign is a strong message of commitment to Infoseek users."
Easy to Find the Best of the Web
Infoseek's directory collection, "Reviewed
Web Site Topics", is now edited completely by hand, making it one of the best on
the Internet. To give users a quality selection of sites, well matched to their
search query, Infoseek uses a proprietary technology to help editors build the directory.
Unlike its competitors, Infoseek offers users the flexibility of quality directory
results and quality Web search results on one page in response to any query.
The directory is organized so that when users search for "Microsoft", for example,
they receive an outline that makes it easy for them to drill down to the information
they desire, whether it is about a specific Microsoft product or Microsoft news.
Reviewed Web sites are rated with a check system, allowing users to quickly scan
the very top-rated sites. These sites are rated based on how well they match a user's
specific search and the quality of the page itself.
Links Lets Users Jump to What They Want
On search results pages, links are
used to organize information for the user and make navigation simple. With the new
interface, users can spend more time finding than looking. The new Infoseek design
allows users to easily discover results to their query in the form of "Recommended"
sites, "Reviewed Web Site Topics", and "Web Search Results". When a user is ready
to move on to a new search, they don't have to search for the search box. Every
heading contains a link to the search box, as well as other elements on the page
so scrolling up or down a search results page isn't necessary.
Find it Fast with Consistent Navigation and Search Box The Infoseek homepage
now features a new navigation bar to put all of the most popular tools at the top
of the page including Stocks, News, Yellow Pages, Maps, Chat, Homepage Building,
and Help. The navigation bar is consistent on every page of the new site so users
can always find what they need quickly. In addition, the search box is consistently
placed at the top of the homepage and at the bottom of each search page to ensure
users always know where to find it. Additional links to the search box from every
heading make it even easier to get there. The homepage also highlights what Infoseek
customers say is most important to them; today's news headlines, a list of new features
at "Infoseek Today", links to Infoseek software tools, and a listing of channels
where users can go to browse.
Today's launch of the new design encompasses the
Infoseek homepage and all search results pages. To ensure stability for users, the
redesign will be launched in two phases. The second phase of the redesign will be
implemented in the first week of October, 1998, and will include a complete redesign
of Infoseek Channels.
About Infoseek
Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Infoseek Corporation (Nasdaq: SEEK)
is a global media company and a leading Internet navigation service with the goal
of delivering on the promise of the Internet to make people's lives easier. In addition
to the Infoseek Internet service, Infoseek licenses its Ultraseek Server search
and navigation software to companies for their own intranet, extranet and Internet
sites.
Infoseek recently signed a definitive agreement with The Walt Disney Company
(NYSE:DIS) related to the acquisition by Infoseek of Starwave Corporation, which
is majority owned by Disney and pursuant to which Disney would acquire additional
shares of Infoseek common stock which would result in Disney having an approximately
43% stake in Infoseek. Disney would also purchase warrants from Infoseek enabling
it to achieve a majority stake in Infoseek over time. In connection with this strategic
transaction, Infoseek plans to launch a Web portal that combines the best of Infoseek,
Starwave, ESPN, ABC and Disney. This transaction is subject to customary closing
conditions, including shareholder approval. Infoseek has commerce and/or content
arrangements with entities that include AT&T (NYSE: T), Auto-By-Tel, Borders Group,
Inc. (NYSE: BGP), CMP Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPX), Datek Online, Inc., Microsoft
Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), PeopleLink Inc., UPS, and Reuters.
Infoseek, Express by Infoseek, Extra Search Precision, Ultraseek, and the Infoseek logo are trademarks of Infoseek Corporation, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the planned new Internet portal service to be named Go Network and the timing of its development and launch that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in such statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to the progress and timing of the redesign of Infoseek Channels, the progress and timing of the development and launch of the planned new Internet portal service, the costs and timing to promote such service, consumer acceptance and use of the new service, and the increasingly competitive nature of the Internet market. In addition, launch of the planned new portal service is conditioned upon and subject to the consummation of the Infoseek acquisition of Starwave and related transactions with Disney, that are subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder approval.