According to several reports including this article by Kevin Delaney on the WSJ online, Google's classified offering that I eluded to in the September 30, 2005 post titled Google To Unleash Classified Ad Product on the Somewhat Frank will soon be released. A statement from Google quoted in the WSJ article explains Google Base as:
"...an early stage test of a product that enables content owners to easily send their content to Google."
So what is Google Base? Google Base appears to be a classified advertising site that allows users to create postings that are much like those that users might place in a newspaper, on Craigslist or on eBay. Some Google Base screen shots have been circulating on the Internet after the URL http://base.google.com/ popped onto the scene, but has quickly been pulled down. Google Base will allow users to easily add items to the Google Base (short of Database?) in several categories like real estate and used automobiles. Google has also been working on an online payment service much like PayPal which most likely will be rolled out to go with the new classified service.
Craigslist, eBay, and Recycler.com all appear to be the market that Google is attempting to target with Google Base. I just wonder what Craig Newmark the founder of Craigslist thinks of Google's latest moves to impede upon the Craigslist turf. Additionally, I wonder how Google Base will further erode the newspaper classified business?
For other early reports on Google Base from the blogosphere check out these posts on TechCrunch, Breaking the Media Code, Software As She's Developed, ResearchBuzz, FreshBlog, and NickStarr.com.
UPDATE: For additional media coverage on Google Base check out the article on washingtonpost.com.
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Tracked on Nov 16, 2005 4:36:26 PM
Seems like quite a logical step for Google since classified advertising is a fairly large part of the e-commerce market that they haven't yet explored. And a company as big as Google has a ready-made market for virtually any online service they start, so it shouldn't be too much or a risk for them.
I can see why it would be a worry for a company like eBay though. Can't be too good for them which ever way you look at it.
Posted by: Jeremy Maddock | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 02:56 AM
It may also be worth noting that Google Base and Google Purchases aren't the ONLY new features coming soon. There is also a Google Videoblog service, among other search engine enhancements, as mentioned here: http://bigellow.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bob Oliver Bigellow XLII | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 10:21 AM
It is also worth noting that this Bigellow guy appears to have gone to every blog posting about Google Base, adding his own comment.
Posted by: Scott Mitchell | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 02:59 PM
Bob is right...I actually wrote a post about the video offerings of Google on September 27, 2005, in a post on Somewhat Frank titled Google Video Debuts With Chris Rock which can be found here: http://www.somewhatfrank.com/2005/09/google_video_de.html
Posted by: Frank Gruber | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 03:06 PM
I have more screenshots of Google Base in my blog. Check it if you are interested!
http://kirubakaran.blogspot.com/2005/10/google-base.html
Posted by: Kirubakaran | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 04:44 PM