Google's possible answer to eBay and Craigslist

Some screenshot links here...
http//blog.outer-court.com/archive/2005-10-26-n16.html

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http//www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2005/10/google_base_a_n.html
October 25, 2005
Google Base A New Rival for eBay and Craigslist?
Rob Hof
ChannelAdvisor CEO Scot Wingo notes that some folks in Europe caught a screen shot of Google Base, which looks to be a potential rival to eBay, before Google apparently took it down. It actually sounds like more than that from the description on the page "Google Base is Google's database into which you can add all sort of content. We'll host your content and make it searchable online for free." It provides examples, from "listing of your used car for sale" to "database of protein structures."

Of course, the latter one wouldn't exactly be a top seller on eBay, but the Webforce blog shows a screenshot of a pretty detailed form for listing real estate. The New Google Blog, with no attribution, suggests Google Base might be introduced today at Google's invite-only Zeitgeist conference.

Actually, it sounds like it might be as much a rival to Craigslist as eBay. Either way, though--assuming it's real--it will require many more pieces to be in place, such as payment and reputation systems. Wouldn't put it past Google to give it all a shot, but it could be a good long while before Google Base makes headway against the finely tuned franchises of eBay and Craigslist.

UPDATE Scot has some more clues and interesting thoughts on what Google Base could mean for eBayers. Although Google Base no doubt will give eBay plenty to chew on, I still think Google has something a little different in mind. Besides the name, which doesn't even suggest an overt focus on commerce, the breadth of categories that Google lists suggests it may be focused on the broader market for local ads--not just classifieds but Yellow Pages and radio ads, which often are from local services. Increasingly, eBay is targeting those as well, with its acquisitions of Rent.com and Shopping.com and its own classified-ad forays. So if Google is successful here--and that's a very big if (Mike Arrington at TechCrunch doesn't think much of the idea)--newspapers and radio stations may have even more to worry about than eBay
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Sounds like a web-based file/information sharing service, Google style.

[quote55193c065d="FreeOffersNow"]Sounds like a web-based file/information sharing service, Google style.[/quote55193c065d]

I tend to agree, but I think this is a preliminary attempt to see what folks really want / need. eBay is tough to compete with - yahoo / ubid / overstock have all tried and not particularly succeeded - but they don't have the cache, name recognition, or most importantly, designers and engineers that google has.

One of the notes I read about the service suggests this is a way for folks that aren't savvy enough to throw up their own website / blog to get all of the clutter of their computer up on the ol' intarweb.

I need a paypal-like system from google.

It's probably already being made and I don't know about it. Google's out of control.

[quote22dec16167="bballp6699"]I need a paypal-like system from google.

It's probably already being made and I don't know about it. Google's out of control.[/quote22dec16167]

Google Wallet is reportedly under development, and major reason they've considered another stock release.

Google owns the Internet.. or will very shortly.

Then we're going to want to be rebels and go with another search engine company, then they'll monopolize, then we'll rebel and go with yet another search engine company. rebel yet again...

you see my point.

Is nothing out of Google's reach? Apparently not.