Google has been quietly testing a new service, called “Google Base”, which allows you to list items on Google. Leaked screenshots of Google Base show a form where you can enter your listing, and which says:

“Post your items on Google. Google Base is Google’s database into which you can add all types of content. We’ll host your content and make it searchable online for free.”

Sweet!

Google Base goes on to say that example of items you can find in Google Base include listing your used car for sale, and a description of your party planning service.

And, “based on the relevance of your items, they may also be included in the main Google search index and other Google products like Froogle and Google Local.”

Double sweet!

Said a Google spokesperson, “This is an early stage test of a product that enables content owners to easily send their content to Google. Like our Web crawl and the recently released Google Sitemaps program, we are working to provide content owners an easy way to give us access to their content. We’re continually exploring new opportunities to expand our offerings, but we don’t have anything to announce at this time.”

Of course, Google is very good at announcing things by not announcing them.

The big question on everybody’s lips is, what does this mean, if anything, for eBay and others?

Said one blog poster, “It’s not just a death knell for eBay, it’s a death knell for Microsoft but people don’t see it yet.”