Factiva is set to radically alter its online service at the end of March, with the company offering a choice of interfaces for two different types of user.

Non-specialist users who want to access information quickly will be offered a new Start Page, while information professionals and research specialists who want to dig deeper into Factiva's databases can now choose an Advanced Search interface, which is a revamped version of the current Factiva.com interface.

"Our research has shown that certain kinds of users take a 'grab and go' approach to information," said Factiva's chief product officer, Karin Borchert, "while others want refined searches and customisation."

Borchert explained that Factiva had faced up to the fact that many users were increasingly expecting the kind of features offered by free web search sites like Google and Yahoo.

"Users expect a simple white box to start a search and speedy responses, so we're giving them that, and at the same time we'll remind them that Google is not the place to access information on which you can make business decisions with confidence," she said.

Users will be asked to specify their country, industry and job function when they first log on, and this data will be used to 'push' relevant news and lists of 'Most Read' articles into their Start Page screen.

"This will help create a sense of community with others like them in an anonymous way," said Borchert. "We want to deliver relevant information in an accessible way."

The Advanced Search screen is a notable improvement on the current Factiva.com interface, with clearer instructions, the main search textbox moved to the top of the screen, and optimised look-up functionality.

Factiva uses the Alta Vista search engine, which it says it is still happy with, and has stripped out some features in order to improve performance.

To transition its end users on to the new interface, the company has already launched preview information on its site.

Borchert said that using feedback from the preview it could even tweak the interface before it's fully launched.