Locanto
Encyclopedia
Locanto is a worldwide online classifieds network with areas dedicated to jobs, personals, for rent, for sale, services, community
, real estate, vehicles, and pets. Locanto Classifieds is available in 38 countries worldwide, covering over 1600 cities.
, Germany. Locanto was launched in July 2006 with a local classifieds site for New York
. One month later, on August 21, 2006, the service was extended to the U.S. cities of Boston
, Chicago
, Los Angeles
and San Francisco. As of 2007, every major U.S. city has its own accessible site for the Locanto classifieds service. In addition, Locanto classifieds sites are now available in 5 languages for more than 1600 cities in 38 countries worldwide.
Locanto is one of three local web applications, including Askalo
and Yalwa
, created by the German start-up company, Yalwa. Klaus P. Gapp, CEO and founder of Yalwa, previously founded and operated OpusForum.org, a local classifieds site for the German speaking market. OpusForum.org was bought by Ebay
in 2005 and merged with its classifieds site Kijiji
one year later.
on Safer Trading in which safety tips for online trading are shared with users.
Argentina - Australia - Austria - Belgium - Bolivia - Canada - Chile - China - Colombia - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - El Salvador - France - Germany- Hong Kong - India - Ireland - Jamaica - Japan - Malaysia - Mexico - Netherlands - New Zealand - Pakistan - Panama - Paraguay - Peru - Philippines - Puerto Rico - Singapore - South Africa - Spain - Switzerland - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom - United States (in English and Spanish) - Uruguay - Venezuela
users. Browsing and searching classified ads as well as posting a free ad is enabled in the mobile version.
Dutch
English
French
German
Spanish
While there is a dedicated version of this site for the Indian market over 60% of the traffic of the American version of the site comes from India.
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
, real estate, vehicles, and pets. Locanto Classifieds is available in 38 countries worldwide, covering over 1600 cities.
Background
The Locanto Classifieds sites are operated by the German startup company Yalwa located in WiesbadenWiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, Germany. Locanto was launched in July 2006 with a local classifieds site for New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. One month later, on August 21, 2006, the service was extended to the U.S. cities of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San Francisco. As of 2007, every major U.S. city has its own accessible site for the Locanto classifieds service. In addition, Locanto classifieds sites are now available in 5 languages for more than 1600 cities in 38 countries worldwide.
Locanto is one of three local web applications, including Askalo
Askalo
Askalo is a social networking and user-generated local question-and-answer site. Askalo users can ask questions about any local topic and share answers tailored to their individual needs.- History :...
and Yalwa
Yalwa
Yalwa is a worldwide business directory in which companies can list their business and advertise within their local neighborhood. The Yalwa Business Directory is available in 38 countries worldwide, covering over 1600 cities and 5 major languages.- About :...
, created by the German start-up company, Yalwa. Klaus P. Gapp, CEO and founder of Yalwa, previously founded and operated OpusForum.org, a local classifieds site for the German speaking market. OpusForum.org was bought by Ebay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
in 2005 and merged with its classifieds site Kijiji
Kijiji
Kijiji is a centralized network of online urban communities for posting local online classified advertisements. It is a subsidiary of eBay launched in March 2005. Kijiji websites are currently available for more than 300 cities in Germany. Further Kijiji countries and regions are Canada, France,...
one year later.
Safety
In regards to internet safety, Locanto has established an independent blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
on Safer Trading in which safety tips for online trading are shared with users.
Countries
The Locanto classifieds sites are available in the following countries:Argentina - Australia - Austria - Belgium - Bolivia - Canada - Chile - China - Colombia - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - El Salvador - France - Germany- Hong Kong - India - Ireland - Jamaica - Japan - Malaysia - Mexico - Netherlands - New Zealand - Pakistan - Panama - Paraguay - Peru - Philippines - Puerto Rico - Singapore - South Africa - Spain - Switzerland - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom - United States (in English and Spanish) - Uruguay - Venezuela
Mobile
Since February 2010, the Locanto classifieds sites are also available in a mobile version for mobile webMobile Web
The Mobile Web refers to the use of Internet-connected applications, or browser-based access to the Internet from a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, connected to a wireless network....
users. Browsing and searching classified ads as well as posting a free ad is enabled in the mobile version.
Languages
Languages that are currently covered:Dutch
English
French
German
Spanish
Criticism
In January 2010, several Indian media channels reported a story about Kannada actress Sanchitha Padukone's pictures having been misused in a personals services ad on Locanto India, naming Locanto a "porn site".While there is a dedicated version of this site for the Indian market over 60% of the traffic of the American version of the site comes from India.