SEL: Microsoft Fremont to Rival Google Base

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November 30, 2005

Microsoft Fremont to Rival Google Base

Rumors of Fremont, Microsoft's Base rival, were confirmed recently. From what I gather Fremont focuses more on classifieds, while Base is open to more (almost any) types of data.

From the eWeek Fremont article:

Glimpses of Fremont are available by pointing a Web browser to fremont.live.com. However, Microsoft said Tuesday the service itself is for now only open to some Microsoft employees.

Microsoft plans the first public test sometime later this month, according to a Microsoft spokeswoman.

On the origins of Fremont, from Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Microsoft employees have long used an internal listing service to sell and exchange items with other workers, friends and family. The company's Windows Live team is trying a similar approach with its listing service. Users will be able to offer their items online either within a closed circle or to the broader public.

Greg Sterling got a Fremont demo:

The site sweeps pretty broadly and has traditional classifieds categories, as well as services. It also seeks to leverage community features so that it’s not just a listings database but much more dynamic.

Search Engine Watch, where I first heard the Fremont news and lifted the links, also has details of some recent MSFT patents. (And you should read Understanding Search Engine Patents)

Garrett French - MarketSmart Interactive | permalink | +marktd |

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