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Alibaba Group website gets makeover in time for IPO

The site is now far more visual and gives interested parties easier access to information about the firm.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger

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Alibaba's new site header. Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group, China's biggest e-commerce company, has a new look for the Web now that its initial public offering is nearing.

The new site, which looks strikingly different from the previous, text-heavy design, is visually focused, telling visitors first about the company's mission "to make it easy to do business anywhere." The site also provides easy access to basic information about Alibaba, ways to contact the firm, and more.

Alibaba on Tuesday filed IPO documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, finally confirming its plans to go public in the US. It's not clear yet just how big the IPO could be, but some analysts are estimating that it could be one of the largest in US history, valuing the company at $250 billion.

The site makeover is an important one for Alibaba. While the company's previous site was useful in its ability to provide information, it was stark and lacked an innovative feel the company prides itself on in the e-commerce space. And now that many more people are interested in learning more about Alibaba and its IPO, it only makes sense that it would revamp its pages now.

(Via The Wall Street Journal)