Amazon.com versus EBay

Internet retailer Amazon.com launches its online auction service today when its flagship Web site offers a virtual online flea market, with tens of thousands of items in 800 categories covering everything from rare books and other collectibles to consumer electronics. That compares with 1.8 million items in nearly 1,100 categories for San Jose-based EBay, which last week signed a four-year, $75-million deal giving it access to the 16 million members of America Online Inc.