New and improved!

Facebook plans to unroll an updated version of Facebook Marketplace — a craigslist-style app that enables users to buy and sell items within their network.

The Marketplace existed for about two years with little popular interest. In December 2008, Facebook threw some juice behind it by announcing a partnership with online classifieds ad vendor Oodle, whose objective is to perfect the business model for social classifieds.

A new interface, developed by Oodle, gives Facebook advertisers easier means of creating, sharing and responding to ad listings, reports Search Engine Journal. The updated version will not replace the old one at once; existing users will be invited to migrate their listings over time. The new Marketplace will also appear in Facebook's Application Directory.

To generate interest in the Oodle Facebook Marketplace, Oodle is sponsoring a drive that lets Facebook members donate their Marketplace profits to charity. Participating organizations include UNICEF and the Sierra Club.

In February Oodle raised $5 million in funding from an existing pool of investors: RedPoint Ventures, Greylock Partners and JAFCO. Two weeks later, it announced a partnership with AOL Classifieds.