Microsoft Decides It Doesn’t Want To Play In Classifieds, Shutters Live Expo

Jun 11, 2008 at 7:42am ET by Greg Sterling

Microsoft’s Live Expo was an interesting mix of listings and social networking features. But it was an experiment that Microsoft has decided it doesn’t want to continue, like Book Search. Expo is closing down on July 31.

Microsoft has apparently decided that Expo and potentially classifieds in general are not core to its position in search and/or local. eBay’s Kijiji has been making steady gains in Canada and abroad and Craigslist continues to dominate the category of horizontal classifieds marketplaces. (If Microsoft eventually buys eBay it would re-enter the business accordingly.)

Redmond could have subsidized Expo for some time and allowed it to grow, but it appears that the company has decided these are resources not well spent.

Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land, and writes a personal blog Screenwerk, examining the broader world of media and advertising. He also posts at a Local Mobile Search, which is focused on the mobile Internet.

See more articles by Greg Sterling >

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