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Google In Talks To Launch UK Property Portal

Wed, 09 Dec 2009
Google is in talks with a number of UK estate agents with a view to entering the online property market, according to reports.

The internet search giant is thought to be weighing up a move to launch an online property service in early 2010 based on the model it launched in Australia earlier this year.

The Australian service allows estate agents to list properties online for free using images from Google’s Street View service and listing details on a map.

However, many experts believe the move could seriously harm existing property sites such as Rightmove.co.uk, the UK’s largest property portal, and findaproperty.com.

Ed Mead, commercial director at estate agency Douglas and Gordon, which has held talks with Google over its UK plans, said: "If the proposed system stays free, then Google has a massive winner on its hands as it will get the backing from estate agents currently paying for rival sites."

Jonathan Cunliffe of estate agency Savills added: "The interesting thing will be to see how and if they charge for content. That is where the battle between the portals might begin."

Responding to the reports, Miles Shipside, commercial director of Rightmove.co.uk, said: "Should Google announce anything, we are confident that people will continue to see the value in our services."
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