Facebook, Oodle Team Up For 'Social Classifieds'

Facebook on Tuesday unveiled a new version of its classified ads section, Marketplace, which is now powered by Oodle.

"Late last year, Facebook turned to Oodle for its expertise in online classifieds, and Oodle has built an entirely new version of Marketplace focused on giving people a place to buy, sell or give things away to the people they know," said Oodle CEO Craig Donato, writing Tuesday in a Facebook blog post.

According to Donato, if users had the previous version of Facebook's Marketplace installed, it will automatically upgrade. "And if you have an active listing in Marketplace, you'll be given the option to transfer it to the new Facebook Marketplace powered by Oodle."

Facebook Marketplace, which premiered in May 2007, includes general categories like "Jobs," "Housing" and "For Sale," and subcategories within each section. The new Marketplace will continue to tweak those categories, according to Donato, and also now enables users to donate proceeds of classified sales to charities such as UNICEF and the Sierra Club.

"For instance, I'm selling some of the toys that my kids have outgrown to support the Samaritan House, a local charity in Oodle's hometown of San Francisco, California, that supports programs for families in need," Donato wrote. "If every person on Facebook sold something for just $1, we would be able to collectively raise over $175 million for causes around the world."

Donato said that Facebook and Oodle would be working on additional categories and more functionality in the coming months.