Broadband Battle: Cool Web Sites

Telephone companies and cable operators in the U.S. are developing new weapons in their battle over the high-speed Internet business: cool Web sites.

Telecom giants such as Comcast Corp., Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. have started to launch a wide range of Web sites that offer the latest in videos, games and other features that work best with high-speed connections. Some of these operators are primarily making these offerings to convince consumers still using dial-up service to upgrade. But others are hoping to turn their sites into profit centers as well.

The latest new addition was a site launched ...