December 2, 2010 – Today Google has announced the launch of Google Trader, as part of its commitment to driving the web forward in Ghana, and highlighting the entrepreneurial opportunities presented by the internet. Trader is a free online classifieds service that allows Ghanaians to buy and sell products and services, as well as search for jobs or just about anything else.
Are you looking for a job as a driver in Accra? Or perhaps you need an electrician in Kumasi to help fix your wiring at home? Do you need to buy a pickup truck for your new business? Whether you’re looking for houses to rent in your neighbourhood, a new sofa set, a sack of corn, or even a wedding dress, Trader has thousands of product and services available in your local area.
Trader can be used by anyone in Ghana, but is expected to have the biggest uptake in major towns and cities across the country. Individuals can post short ads to buy and sell items and services, whilst businesses of any size can also use the site to reach more customers and increase their sales.
To make sure that Trader is easily accessible to users across Ghana, Google has partnered with AIRTEL and TIGO to offer a FREE SMS option. Users can subscribe by texting ‘START’ to 6007 on any Airtel or Tigo phone and can start posting and selling straight away.
Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Country Lead for Google Ghana said, “We are excited about Trader because it’s free, easy to use, and locally relevant. Having a web version, a mobile web version and an SMS option means that Trader is accessible to everyone, no matter where you are.”
Visit the Google Trader website at www.google.com.gh/africa/trader and to get started via SMS, text ‘START’ to 6007. Full details on how to use the product can be found on the Google Trader help page.
Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s mission in Africa is to make the internet an integral part of every day life in Africa, by increasing its relevance and usefulness, eliminating access barriers for potential users, and developing products that are meaningful for the countries in the region. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com and see our Africa Blog.
Labels: Africa news announcements
