'Google Found to Be Testing Classified Ads'

article by John Markoff here.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25 - An online classified service being tested by Google set off intense speculation on Tuesday after a Web site for the service was accidentally made public and discovered by a computer programmer on Monday.

The service, which was named Google Base and was for a time accessible at base.google.com, described itself 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."

The new service could automatically funnel listings on all kinds of subjects and display them as part of the company's sponsored ad links on the right side of pages displaying search results from Google queries.

more info on google base here.