eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY), the World's Online Marketplace, today announced its launch of online classifieds Web sites in select international markets. Launched on February 28 under the brand Kijiji, the Web sites give people living and working in the same city a convenient, fun and free way to meet, share ideas, trade goods, and find information or things they want locally.
Kijiji is currently available in more than 50 cities in Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. From building friendships and trading large appliances to chatting about the city's best restaurants or looking for a babysitter, Kijiji is designed to help people find what they need. Based on both personal connections and commerce, individuals can list and find items on Kijiji free of charge.
Kijiji is a start-up within eBay created by a small team of entrepreneurial employees. eBay endorsed the experiment late last year. Alex Kazim, senior vice president of new ventures at eBay, is responsible for the Kijiji initiative.
"Kijiji builds local communities online, giving neighbors a way to come together around local needs and interests," said Kazim. "We're excited about making Kijiji the online neighborhood meeting place for local residents in cities around the world."
The launch of Kijiji will not have a material impact on 2005 revenues and is incorporated in eBay's financial guidance as issued in connection with its fourth quarter earnings announcement on January 19, 2005.
