Los Angeles - Retail giant Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) has launched a beta test of an online classified ads listing service powered by Oodle, which aggregates listings from over 80,000 sites and counts over 40 million listings.

"This free, community-based resource allows customers to buy and sell items locally, find local jobs and learn about events in their area," Walmart.com spokesman Ravi Jariwala told the Associated Press.

The main difference between Oodle and a similar service like Craigslist, is that Craigslist is free to all except some job posters and New York apartment brokers, while Oodle allows users to bid to gain more prominent placement for their ads.

Related Links:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121245495126439953.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9958140-7.html

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080603/wal_mart_classifieds.html (AP)

http://www.oodle.com

http://walmart.oodle.com