Big-Box Wal-Mart Dipping Into Free Online Classifieds

Wal-Mart is testing a new service, cNet reports: free online classified ads. The big-box retailer launched the site last week, in partnership with start-up Oodle.com, and offers more than 40 million listings, featuring seven categories, in major US cities.

The move, seen as a direct challenge to Craigslist, isn't the first online venture for Wal-Mart, which scrapped a previous offering of movie downloads. Its new service, unlike Craigslist, will allow advertisers to pay to have products placed more prominently. (More Craigslist stories.)