Google is trialling a new service named Google Base that allows people to post and make searchable any type of content. You can post events, housing, jobs, products, second-hand vehicles etc. This seems like yet another step in Google’s relentless march for domination of the Net.In a description on the Google Base site, the company described the service as
Google’s database into which you can add all types of content. We’ll host your content and make it searchable online for free.Â
To quote Infoworld
The service could put Google in competition with online auctioneer EBay Inc., which recently bought a minority share of Craigslist Inc., a classified listings site, observers say. EBay, based in San Jose, Calif., bought a 25 percent stake in San Francisco-based Craigslist, which covers a wide range of categories from jobs and apartments to used cars and personals.Â
Other comments mention the rumoured Google Office and how you’ll be able to use it to edit content you place in Google Base.Google wants your car listings, events, etc. at ZDNet covers some more ground. I’m sure we will all be hearing a lot more about this is the coming days and months and like everything Google does we’ll watch and wait with interest.
Instead of launching half-baked features every day, Google should first focus on resolving the key issues in its core search business:
– fake sites that distort the search rankings for users
– fake click-throughs that make advertisers lose confidence on Google’s advertising
… any other features beyond good solid search are just a “nice to haveâ€
Juan,
I agree with you 110%. See my earlier Google gripe at: http://blog.surfulater.com/wordpress/?p=20
Another search engine could come along tommorrow that worked better than Google and folks would switch in droves, just like they did when they moved to Google in the first place. It is very hard for something that is free to have brand loyalty. This is probably part of the reason why Google is putting its finger in so many different pies.
There are no signs that Google is working on the issues you’ve raised and if anything things are simply getting worse.
I’m hearing more and more lately about people stopping their Google Ads. My guess is that there are enough new advertisers coming along all the time that this isn’t yet a problem for Google. It can’t last forever though.