Microsoft Testing Its Own 'Google Base' Classifieds Marketplace

[regic]

Microsoft Corp. said it is readying an online marketplace, code-named Fremont, which is apparently in response to a similar feature that rival Google Inc. introduced a few weeks ago.

Fremont is a free service in which people contribute listings, whether it's about a couch for sale or someone looking for a commuting partner.

Microsoft plans to index each item, thereby adding it to the results from using Microsoft's Internet search engine.

full article: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1894067,00.asp

preview parts of the new site: http://fremont.live.com

[regic]

Microsoft has started testing its own upcoming free classifieds site, code-named "Fremont." ...

"It is more than just a classifieds service: you can post information you'd like to share with your social network--it integrates with Virtual Earth and aids in the discovery of items via search, MSN Alerts, integration with WL Messenger, WL Spaces, MSN Shopping, and other Windows Live and MSN assets," said a spokeswoman for MSN.

full article: http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=36960

[sneakymagenta]

Fremont is a free service

I like the free part best. 

[mandy]

Two more articles on the upcoming Microsoft Classifieds service

"In January or February, … it became clear that people were becoming more and more comfortable with listing things online," Wiseman said. "We had a couple of unique services we could integrate to make a really good experience."

Those ingredients include mapping and messaging. MSN Virtual Earth is being rebranded to Live Local, and it will be integrated throughout the classifieds service...

Users will be able to limit access to their listings to their instant messaging buddies or to a single domain, such as Microsoft.com or Harvard.edu.

The team is pondering instituting some sort of reputation system, as is used by eBay...

full article: http://news.earthweb.com/ec-news/article.php/3567806

Why Microsoft’s classifieds service will be better than Google Base

First, a quick description of Fremont. It looks and acts like a classic online classifieds site. A list of linked categories is on the front page and users can browse or search through the listings. A key difference though is that the listings are turbo-charged – as the poster, you can control who can see them...

full article: http://blogs.forrester.com/charleneli/20...ofts_.html

[mandy]

Microsoft has renamed their planned Classified Ad service.  Fremont is now Windows Live Expo.  The beta program for the service has been opened to U.S. residents.

What it is
An online marketplace and social networking site
What it gives you
• Free ads that are easy to post
• Browse through a wide range of categories ranging from merchandise,
events, personals and services
• Keep your dealings within a trusted network like your MSN Messenger Buddies , friends or co-workers; or open them up to anyone
• Find listings just in your area, nationwide or anywhere in between
• Add your listings to your MSN Space with one easy click
• Get detailed maps and directions for things like garage sales, homes for sale or concerts
• Communicate with people via MSN Messenger right from Expo’s site

We think you're really going to like our new online marketplace with a social networking twist. You can buy, sell, and communicate with the people that you choose in your neighborhood or across the country.

screenshots and more info: http://ideas.live.com/programpage.aspx?v...1e7645b089
signup: http://www1.imagine-msn.com/minisites/expo/default.aspx?

[bargainbloodhound]

"In January or February, … it became clear that people were becoming more and more comfortable with listing things online,"

January and February of what year, 2000?  : :

At this point I like Fremont Windows Live Expo a lot more than I like the mess known as Google Base. I think Microsoft's product is more user friendly (i.e. buyer ) than Base.

[jezebel]

http://spaces.msn.com/members/teamexpo/

"So when is it launching then?"

A very common (and good) question that we have been asked quite a few times during our stay here in Las Vegas. The plain answer is that we're not setting an exact date, but we're waiting a little longer to make sure we're satisfied with the progress of the internal beta.

As some of you may be aware, we opened up the service to Microsofties just before Christmas as part of a trial to gain feedback and test system stability. 

[regic]

I think Microsoft's product is more user friendly (i.e. buyer ) than Base

Microsoft=Gaping Security Vulnerabilities 

[Bidera]

Google Base has really not done as much as I thought.

I have my doubts about Microsofts service too. Seems Craiglists model continues to rule supreme.

[bargainbloodhound]

[quote author=Bidera link=topic=1495.msg7544#msg7544 date=1137081428]
Google Base has really not done as much as I thought.

I have my doubts about Microsofts service too. Seems Craiglists model continues to rule supreme.
[/quote]

Based on the mediocre performance/success of Froogle compared to other comparison shopping engines, I wasn't expecting a lot from a Google classifieds site.  At this point the site is not buyer or seller friendly.

Microsoft's service looks like it might be easier to learn than Base for the average person and more end-user friendly than Craigslist so it might be able to pick up some market share but then again maybe not--Yahoo Classifieds has fallen flat on its face despite being part of the most heavily trafficked web site so a big name and high traffic is no guarantee of success.

Whether Base or Live Expo take off or not,  I'll probably still prefer Craigslist though over the Microsoft and Google sites.