Google launches classifieds website in Kenya

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Today, Google announced that it has launched Google Trader, a classifieds service, in Kenya. Here’s the address: google.co.ke/africa/trader. According to a post on the Google Africa blog, thousands of businesses have already posted tens of thousands of classifieds listings on the site and the content is growing.

The Google Trader service is not new in Africa. It’s been launched already in Ghana and Uganda. It was launched in June 2009 in Uganda as an SMS based classifieds service and later extended to the web the same year. Google announced that year that “most mobile devices in Africa only have voice and SMS capabilities, and so we are focusing our technological efforts in that continent on SMS”

Google doesn’t say today if the Kenya implementation will have the SMS version of the service that both Google Trader Uganda and Ghana have. From what we observe, likely not. The Kenya website doesn’t have the SMS instructions that are clearly visible on the Ghana and Uganda sites. We’ll try to find out why.

In Kenya, Google will compete with other online classifieds services like n-soko and Dealfish. n-soko is owned by Nation Media Group, publishers of the Daily Nation, a publication considered Kenya’s most influential newspaper.

7 comments

  1. JamesM

    Classifieds seems to be the route most budding Zim tech entrepreneurs have taken. It’s one which no longer appeals to me and one I caution local tech entrepreneurs from jumping into unless one has a really compelling product. Not that it’s a bad business model but one that has attracted lots of players including the almighty Google itself. Good luck competing with Google! It’s time to look beyond classifieds and the net is one where one can come up with unlimited ideas. Here are 3 areas I would recommend budding tech entreprenuers explore, 1. ___, 2. ___, 3. ___. Keep looking !!!

  2. Anonymous

    He he, watch out zim classifieds

  3. Jack

    classifieds also relies on heavily marketing your product to Advertisers and Users. u may have the best app but if tha povo doesnt use it, haulume

  4. kthaker

    google trader seems to be very much like craigslist

  5. Westbrom

     I am looking for a honest Person.I am searching for a God fearing and sincere and trusted person that can take care of my two kids down here in London UK and i will 

    be paying 800pounds weekly..are you interested or have someone who is interested to work for my family in united kingdom?.Please email me to enable me send you the job 

    details : westbrom@london.com

    Thanks
    Sir West Brom

  6. Femi Akindele

    http://www.loogga.com is much more easier

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