Google Yahoo edging into Trade Press

Google and Yahoo!, two of the largest new media companies in the world, could be looking at moving into traditional media, both angling for partnerships with global magazine owner Trade Classified Media. Online auction firm eBay could also be considering a similar approach. The reports come as traditional media companies including News Corporation seek to boost their investment in the internet and make more money by putting their established brands online. Trader Classified Media was founded in 1987 and owns 575 print titles and 56 websites in 20 countries including the US, France, Spain and Russia. It is worth around €1.3bn. Local search and listings are becoming increasingly profitable areas for internet companies, and are at the heart of new "pay-per-call" revenue models, which some see as potentially more profitable than pay-per-click advertising. The rivalry between Google and Yahoo! to do a deal with Trader Classified Media comes a week after a spat over which search engine had indexed the most pages.