Froogle Goes Local

Google is further going local using map and phone.

Froogle just launched (or expanded) from online shopping into 'local shopping' using feeds collected from selective Google Base sources (e.g. ShopLocal.com & StepUp.com). To experience this local shopping product search, simple go to Froogle and do a search on 'ipod', click on the 'local shopping' link appears on the top after your search, then type in your zip code. You'll see local selections with pricing information. A local map will appear on the right, with legends pointing to where you can find the item being searched upon at the local stores. The integration of Google Map with local listings paves the foundation to challenge old-school yellowpages and other online classified.

What about telephone, a big part of traditional yellowpages where you advertise your business phone and address to connect with buyers? Google is testing a new way of connecting merchants with online visitors via phone by Google Click-to-Call. All it takes to ask for a merchant to get in touch with you is by you typing in your phone number online, then the merchant will be called upon when your phone also rings. Google will foot the phone bill for the most part (unless you're using cellphone). You, as consumer, pay virtually nothing.

eBay Plans Offline Discounts in 2006

It is quite true that eBay is planning on offering local merchants to list offline printable coupons. The first vertical eBay is planning is the auto service category that it has a good tracking record in. eBay sold more than 1 million cars already since launched, that gives them a lot of confidence to expand into printable classified with coupons in that category.

"EBay plans to develop by as early as next year a new area devoted to automotive services on its existing eBay Motors site. It may be a stand-alone service category where consumers could search for service discounts and coupons." -- post-gazette.com business news

With eBay expanding the classified listing to protect its ground from Google Base invasion, other two start-ups Oodle and LiveDeal (recently funded with $4.85M series B, 25 employees) are competing head-to-head specialized in classified trying to catch up with Craigslist which eBay has minority stake. I paid a quick visit to LiveDeal's new headquarter in Santa Clara, CA, talked to a couple nice people there. LiveDeal's planning to expand into canada with the new funding.

Google Base Beta Launched

Boom! Google Base released bata today.

As speculated before, it is a universal database of some sort to collect structural content from the public. The challenges regarding the content quality waited to be seen and the ripple effects to the Web users will be more clear as more analyists and users see this new ambitious application in place tomorrow morning.

I noticed at least one clause of the Google Base Policy states the following to guard its quality:

"Posting is not permitted for the promotion of affiliate sites or products sold through an affiliate marketing relationship."

Go to Google Base now, and search for 'amazon rebate' to see what you get.

Social E-Commerce

The discount shopping sector is heating up a bit this week at a pace more quickly than I expected:

1. Yahoo Integrate Yahoo Deals

Starting yesterday, a product search on Yahoo shopping not only takes you to product results, but also a link to deals if the product can be applied with coupon. For example, do a search on '1800flowers' at http://shopping.yahoo.com. You may see product results with a link of 'Deals available' list all available deals and coupons. The theme of Yahoo shopping is still product focus, not deal focus. But it could position a threat to us in the long run unless we beat them up with awesome content.

2. Yahoo Launched Shoposhere - Shoposhere is a 'social ecommerce' application that buyers can 'search, save, and share', the concept that I preached with some of you recently that I hope to adopt.

3. Google Analytics Launched - This free service made many entrepreneurs waked up yesterday only found that their business is suddenly at risk.

Amazon Signed SideStep

Just today, Amazon signed deal with SideStep to launch Travel Search within Amazon in early 2006.

SideStep is a meta travel search engine which direct compete with Kayak, a travel deal partner of Keeca. Keeca partners with Kayak and now Amazon will do similar with SideStep to step into consumer search of travel area starting 2006.

Stats shows that Kayak is gaining ground while SideStep is losing, the 2 are head-to-head after these months. With Amazon joining force with SideStep, the consumer search area will continue to heat up. The move also indicate Amazon model transition from traditional e-tailer to consumer oriented search selling traffic and earn commission as Amazon demonstrate.

Internet Market Watch

1. Jux2.com (formerly best meta search engine of 2005) sold on eBay, final price $101K.

2. Social Bookmark (or Social Search Engine) keep heating up.

• Yahoo MyWeb 2.0
• del.icio.us (rising new star)
• furl.net (owned by Looksmart.com)

3. LookSmart advocates a way of combining search results mixed/integrated of

• Articles
• Shared Pages (www.furl.net)
  
• Blogs
• Web
• News

Rumored Google Base

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. What are the potential impacts if Google decided to modify its mission to not only organize others information but also claim the ownership of such information?

Google is secretly working on a Google Data Base concept, which is essentially an Admin Tool for people to post content with 'attributes' and allow the original author to tag the postings. The snap shot shows the pilot experiment using an example related to Real Estate sector.

Rumors also say a Google is working on something related to Classified Search.