Google denies plan to take on eBay

Rumours suggest Google is expanding into e-commerce

Google has strongly denied speculation that it is testing an online classifieds service by the name of Google Base.

The speculations were spurred after screenshots of the alleged service started appearing online on Tuesday. Google then quickly removed the webpages from the URL at which they were found.

The page shows an option to post data to a category such as vehicles. The page further suggests that the service could be out to woo classified advertisers with the phrase: "Are you a merchant or a webmaster, or do you have lots of stuff?" 

The page however also offers plenty of hints that the service is about something other than Google setting up an eBay competitor. The service is described as a "database in which you can add all types of content. We'll host your content and make it searchable online for free."

Numerous blogs and even the New York Times, however, quickly jumped to the conclusion the service marks an attempt by Google to expand into e-commerce.

Later on in the day Google put an abrupt end to the speculation. "We are testing a new way for content owners to submit their content to Google, which we hope will complement existing methods," explained Google product marketing manager Tom Oliveri on Google's official blog.