Promising new marketplace Clearly, the Internet directory business is viewed as one of the most promising opportunities in the media field. By no means is this a U.S. cities phenomenon. There are Christian Yellow Pages and Jewish Yellow Pages, Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages, and a Chinese Yellow Pages of the San Francisco Bay Area, among many other niche markets represented. International representation includes the Western Samoa Business Directory and Yellow Pages, the United Arab Emirates Internet Yellow Pages, and the Central and Eastern European Directory Online. Either the old content isn't compelling enough to attract the user or the navigation isn't artful enough to be useful or the print business model does not translate to the online medium.
Directories are no different.
The Internet has spawned entirely new kinds of directories and associated tools. Most of the telephone companies have added their own special twists in bringing their directories to the Internet. It includes a national directory and local city guides for the major cities in the region, links to other state and city guides in the region, original content, and partnerships with several dozen other regional books and magazines. Redmond, Washington-based InfoSpace is a directory of directories. The free basic service incorporates proprietary searching techniques in yellow and white page directories, classified listings, maps and direction information, news, weather forecasts, and driving conditions.