Google Sites offers easy web page creation

Google Sites features a graphical interface that lets users create pages with no HTML coding.

Users can embed YouTube videos and content from Google's Calendar, Docs and Picasa sites, and will also be allowed to upload any sort of file type to their site.

"We are literally adding an 'edit' button to the web," said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager of enterprise at Google.

One of the biggest selling points of Google Sites will be its collaboration features. The service will also give web masters the option of allowing other users to edit the pages and upload content to sites.

Google said that much of the technology for the service comes from JotSpot, the wiki site specialist acquired by Google in 2006.

The search giant hopes that the service will appeal to users who need to create simple professional sites, such as online CVs, internal company pages, or classroom sites for students to upload homework assignments.

"With Google Sites, anyone can create an entirely customised site in minutes and invite others to contribute," said Girouard.

Google Sites will be available in four versions. Individual users will be offered either the 'standard' or 'premier' versions, while enterprises can sign up for 'team accounts' and academic users will be offered an 'education edition'.