Google Pulls Test Classified Ad Site

U.S. search engine Google briefly tested an online classified service that appeared aimed at competing with eBay and Craigslist.

Known as Google Base, it was briefly accessible until Google took it down and 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 service appeared able to funnel automatically listings on numerous 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, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Google released a statement on Tuesday suggesting that the purpose of the test site was to make it simpler for Google customers to post content on Google.

We are testing new ways for content owners to easily send their content to Google, the company said Tuesday in a statement. Like our Web crawl and the recently released Google Sitemaps program, we are working to provide content owners an easy way to give us access to their content. We’re continually exploring new opportunities to expand our offerings, but we don’t have anything to announce at this time.