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Google Launches Payment Service

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

June 29, 2006, 12:22 PM

Google on Thursday launched its highly-anticipated payments service, dubbing it Google Checkout. While at first glance, the Mountain View, Calif. company's new offering may look to compete with PayPal directly, it differs from the popular payment services in a few key ways.

Instead of acting as a depository for funds, Google Checkout aims to speed the checkout process by acting as a method to send personal and financial information to participating merchants. The customer does not need to enter any information in order to make purchases.

The service is available only to businesses that advertise through Google's network. To inform users of which advertisers are supporting the program, a green shopping cart icon would appear by the advertisement in Google's pages.

Google Checkout would be offered to advertisers for free. Initially, participating merchants include Jockey, Starbucks Store, Levi's, Dockers, Buy.com, Timberland, Zales among others.

"For shoppers, the goal of Google Checkout is to include more relevant information in search advertisements and make it easier to buy from sellers with a single login," product manager Eric Lange said. "For advertisers, we want to make it easier to attract new customers and process their purchases for free."

It is unclear what eBay's position on Google's latest move is as the company has refused to comment. eBay is one of the search engine's largest advertisers.

Analysts gave the service high marks initially. "It's brilliant - by tying the wallet service to search, Google creates a huge incentive for its retail advertisers to participate," Charlene Li of Forrester Research said. However, she was concerned that Google's moves in the information arena could be seen as similar to that of Microsoft.

"Instead of dominating operating systems and software, Google is instead dominating our information," Li said. "So at what point does Google step over the line and extend its products and services too far?"

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By knowyourprofit

posted Oct 6, 2008 - 8:34 AM

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Score: 0

By knowyourprofit

edited Oct 6, 2008 - 8:28 AM

This blog is novice and informative,it is a pleasure to post a comment on this usefull blog created by a webmaster

Now as such the final stages of the formal completion of nuclear deal has come,so we can expect some positive news effecting the
movement of the INDIAN STOCK MARKET which means stocks coming in power sector will take new direction

Companies which will benefited includes mainly

1.Larsen n Tourbo(LT)
2.Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd(HCC)

and the list had few more names..

Happy Trading

Have Query

Feel free to contact us at

Team
KnowYourProfit

+91-9871142419
+91-9212663485

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

posted Jul 2, 2006 - 4:54 PM

"This is no scam , obviously"

Obviously.

...

Score: 0

By CMSTech

edited Jul 3, 2006 - 9:14 AM

*nevermind*

They removed it.

Score: 0

By ladylust

posted Jul 1, 2006 - 11:51 PM

Well im not sure if you can actually have a balance in an account like you can with paypal. If its just a Credit Card service then it will not stand up to Paypal. Many people have sell and use the funds in there account to pay for auctions. I think paypal has been around so long its going to be hard to beat them. Stormpay tried to do this, and died.

Score: 0

By Avion Airplane

edited Jul 1, 2006 - 11:09 AM

Google is also stealing people from Microsoft.
mabey after Bill Gates retires he will go work for Google also...

Googlesoft ???

Score: 0

By naman91

posted Jul 1, 2006 - 10:02 AM

This is news and yes, google is spreading very fast, maybe too fast.I agree with Charlene Li. Maybe they are going too far- G Maps, GMail,Gsearch, etc, etc etc.

But this technology is something that will attract many new merchants, seeing that most other online payment processors charge at least 10% of the cost for processing it. This includes ads and payment processing. A huge step

Score: 0

By jeffreylbca

edited Jun 30, 2006 - 5:43 PM

They can't even keep the email up and running, how are they going to pull this off and provide security?

Score: 0

By CMSTech

posted Jul 2, 2006 - 11:20 AM

Huh? Are you talking about Gmail? I have been using Gmail since it came out and it has had VERY little downtime. When it does go down, it is usually only down for about a min or two...what have you been smoking?

Score: 0

By TC17

posted Jun 30, 2006 - 9:13 AM

As I posted later in this thread, why use Google to shop when you can make money using something like www.ebates.com or even Fatwallet.com has a similar service.

If you go through Google, you will make nothing.

(Yes I know about their current special of $10 off for certain stores, but that isn't the same thing, thats just a promo to get people to use their service).

Score: 0

By jnobbs21

edited Aug 26, 2006 - 8:31 PM

I agree. There is no reason not to use a program like Ebates or Fatwallet. I personally use Extrabux, which is a new cash back website that seems to be better than both.

Score: 0

By TC17

edited Jun 30, 2006 - 9:14 AM

While I like Google, I think this idea is just stupid(at least for the customer it is). Your FAR better off going through something like www.ebates.com to place orders because YOU make some extra money that way. With google, the only people making money will be google (thats their reason for doing this, I'm sure they get a percentage from the merchant for each purchase you make... with ebates you get the precentage).

This service isn't anything like what Paypal does. It shouldn't even be compared to Paypal.

Score: 0

By Friar Tuck

edited Jul 1, 2006 - 11:08 AM

TC17, I hardly feel it is an issue of money with Google rather than power. Remember, "Information is Power" Google has been striving for this power for several years now and it has gotten to the point that Microsoft and Yahoo have combined efforts to achive this power. Like Google, this is done unknowingly through your searches, emails, chats, etc. Myself, like many others have abandoned many google services because of their practice of storing your information and now, with this new rollout, this information is going to go alot further than your IP Addy and where your search leads to. I'd say, it's now getting VERY Personal and it scares the crap out of me. Take Heed to this People.

Score: 0

By plumlipstick

posted Jun 30, 2006 - 9:51 PM

This sounds backward to me. You say,
"While I like Google, I think this idea is just stupid(at least for the customer it is). Your FAR better off going through something like
www.ebates.com
to place orders because YOU make some extra money that way. With google, the only people making money will be google (thats their reason for doing this," This seems like repackaging of the "Earn money by spending more money" philosophy. Why not just skip that step and charge a lower price to begin with? Inflating a price so you can give your customer cash back or a mail in rebate just creates confusion and takes advantage of people who aren't good at understanding economics. For the rebate crowd, they borrow our money at the time of purchase and then send it back 4 weeks later. It's an insult to our inteligence as well as our wallets. Why not just give a straight price? I hope Google will shoot straight on this one.

Score: 0

By sanawar

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 10:57 PM

The ease of use if very much evident and I guess it can't be easier. I don't have to remember all the different usernames and passwords for the websites that I go to and shop.

Google once again has done it...easy, simple, pretty, and clean interface as always. I just have to say: Go Google!

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 6:02 PM

This looks a lot more like Microsoft's Digital Locker and hardy anything like PayPal. Why the hell is PayPal brought up so much when it isn't similar in any way.

Score: 0

By Joe Dirt

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 4:22 PM

Check out http://www.betanews.com

Check out http://fileforum.betanews.com

Both are nice sites. THey look promising.

Score: 0

By spiked

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 3:35 PM

OK, it's tied to search but it's still just a wallet, something that Yahoo, Microsoft, and many others (remember RocketCash?) tried years ago. Technically, Yahoo's Wallet still exists but almost all the merchants on Yahoo Shopping have disabled it due to lack of consumer interest. I would really be surprised if Google can make this work, as currently described. I think it's far more likely that this is just a first step toward full PayPal functionality but Google won't admit it until they are fully prepared for battle. I doubt PayPal is fooled, though. Everyone knows what a Death Star under construction looks like.

Score: 0

By streaky06

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 6:23 PM

One could argue that paypal *is* a deathstar, and it aint under constuction, some good friends of mine have had some very bad experiences.

my suggestion is use a credit card if you can and think twice if you can't, you get absolutely no protection with such services despite what they might say

Score: 0

By aredo

edited Jun 30, 2006 - 1:30 PM

Actually PayPal gave my money back 4 times from eBay sellers that didn't deliver the products.
Their protection might not be perfect, their service it's pretty expensive but it seems that it works, most of the time at least.

Score: 0

By celerityfm

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 2:19 PM

"The service is available only to businesses that advertise through Google's network."

I don't think that's correct-- my understanding is that *IF* you advertise through Google's network you'll be able to get a discount on the Checkout service. But if you do NOT advertise with them you can still accept payments through their service on your website.

One source for this information is during the signup for Checkout-- They say "You'll also have an opportunity to link your Google AdWords account with Google Checkout to earn free transaction processing." - see https://checkout.google.com/seller/start.html for more info.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 2:02 PM

Competition is always good. Regardless where they come from. Paypal is charging too much for it's service. I am hoping more player will come in. Yahoo and MSFT need to get into this too.

Score: 0

By rupya

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 1:14 PM

thats cool check out here what else they have planned for http://www.rupya.com

Score: 0

By knowyourprofit

posted Oct 7, 2008 - 3:04 AM

This blog is novice and informative,it is a pleasure to post a comment on this usefull blog created by a webmaster

Now as such the final stages of the formal completion of nuclear deal has come,so we can expect some positive news effecting the
movement of the INDIAN STOCK MARKET which means stocks coming in power sector will take new direction

Companies which will benefited includes mainly

1.Larsen n Tourbo(LT)
2.Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd(HCC)

and the list had few more names..

Happy Trading

Have Query

Feel free to contact us at

Team
KnowYourProfit

+91-9871142419
+91-9212663485

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 2:07 PM

Wow.

Apparently Betanews needs to be renamed to,

'Pimp your Website'.

It's becoming an epidemic.

Quick, someone get some nurses in here, stat!

Score: 0

By Arakiel

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 4:28 PM

more like... 'pimp your ugly freakin cluttered website'

his blog reminds me of the early days of the icq site, where it was voted most ugly website year after year

Score: 0

By markrubi

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 1:14 PM

Way to advertise your blog. I saw you doing the samething on digg. Nicely placed ads by goooooggggle

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 2:02 PM

Wait...he's a blogger *and* a digg user?

Well, I guess that pretty much sums it up. :)

Score: 0

By Joe Dirt

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 12:48 PM

Dumb.

Yeah....I want Google taking care of all my personal information.

Yeah.....that's a good idea.

Google is the Devil.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 2:05 PM

Ya know...if they'd ever actually *done* anything with all of that data other than target text-based ads, I might be a bit more inclined to attempt to follow your train of thought.

Unfortunately, it seems to have switched tracks into a never-ending loop. Getting a bit redundant, if you ask me.

...just sayin'.

Score: 0

By mario0318

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 1:48 PM

The Devil Wears Prada is a good film

Score: 0

By dmainzman

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 12:43 PM

I'm all for awesome new google features, but this one just seems kind of dumb, compared to paypal.
The great thing about paypal is that you can deposit any amount of money into your account at any time and use it virtually all over the web.
As far as I can tell, with google checkout you HAVE to use your credit card with it (you can't accept money from other people?) and you can only use it at select google advertisers.
I guess that helps to ensure you only purchase from reliable websites, but still....

Score: 0

By aredo

posted Jun 30, 2006 - 1:32 PM

Actually PayPal might lock your account for no reason if "they suspect" you have too much money flowing thru it... That's insane but it might happen, it's stated in their TOS.

Score: 0

By mario0318

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 1:47 PM

PayPal was in the same position when it was launched. Google's service free to advertisers though? I'd say give it time and it will begin dominating through most merchants out there. Knowing Google, they will gradually improve the service to include more payment methods than just CCs.

Score: 0

By DJInsomniac

edited Jun 29, 2006 - 1:00 PM

It was never supposed to battle Paypal.

Score: 0

By spiked

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 3:25 PM

Sure, that's what they say now, just because it's too immature to take on PayPal. Wait until it's fully developed and see what Google's position becomes then.

Score: 0

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