Google Explores Classified Advertising Service

Google Inc. unintentionally provided a sneak peek Tuesday at what appears to be a looming expansion into classified advertising -- a free service that might antagonize some of the Internet search engine’s biggest customers, including online auctioneer EBay Inc.

Screen shots of the experimental service, dubbed Google Base, appeared on several websites shortly after the legions of people who dissect the online search engine leader’s every move discovered a link to a page inviting people to list things such as a used car for sale, a party-planning service and current events.

Google confirmed the development of the service a few hours after taking down the link.

“We are testing new ways for content owners to easily send their content to Google,” the Mountain View, Calif.-based company said in a statement. “We’re continually exploring new opportunities to expand our offerings, but we don’t have anything to announce at this time.”

By offering a forum that would enable people to sell goods and services without paying for the advertising, Google might hurt EBay, a major buyer of the online ads that account for most of Google’s profit.

EBay depends on the fees that it receives for helping to sell all kinds of products and services, including items that might be listed for free on Google Base.