Users of the Oodle search engine will see results of their classified ad search alongside a Google Map of locations.
Find an apartment, find a job, find a yard sale, they are all reasons to sift through the classified section of a newspaper, or its online equivalent. The Oodle search engine offers a way to go through the listings provided by local and national web sites, according to a press release.
By implementing Google Maps with their service, a user’s query will return results with an accompanying map. It will be a useful way for users to get an idea of when a particularly nice neighborhood in town will be having a community yard sale. Who knows, someone might tag a Tiffany lamp for $1, and you could be the next person shaking hands with the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow.
Google has made its Maps API available to sites that will be free to consumers. The site earns revenue through advertising, and derives its listings from classified ads listed online.
Former members of Excite.com run Oodle; they previously worked on search-related projects at Excite before founding their new venture. They have added a feature called Give Locally to the Oodle site, and sum up what it means in the FAQ:
Many people want to volunteer or to give away old stuff to charities, but don’t know where to get started. We put together information on local volunteer opportunities and charities to make it easier for people to get involved.
Oodle only has listings for thirteen cities, but plans to add more every few weeks. The site notes in its blog how big time publishers like Tribune and Knight Ridder have begun making classifieds available online for free. Yahoo and eBay have entered the classified realm as well.
The Oodlers hope to have the same success as Craigslist, and believe they can accomplish it through their approach to online classifieds.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
