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.
