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Google to Test PayPal Rival

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i'll-gbuy-that-for-a-dollar dept.

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Google is set to introduce a test version of its GBuy online-payment service as early as this week, presaging a shake-up in the online-payments market now dominated by eBay's PayPal, the Wall Street Journal reports. From the article: 'Here is how the service will work: Consumers who search for items like "shoes" or "strollers" on Google's search site will see text ads with a symbol or icon designating advertisers that accept GBuy payments. Shoppers normally would have clicked on an ad and been linked to that merchant's Web site. Now, while they will still be linked to the merchant's site, they will go through a different checkout process integrated with Google if they choose GBuy for their transaction. Details of the service could still change before Google's official GBuy announcement.'"

4 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. I like google as much as the next /.er, by tpjunkie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    but seriously, don't you think they've begun to seriously overextend themselves, as well as take on a sort of microsoft-borg-ish nature, assimilating anything and everything it encounters?

    1. Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, by donutello · · Score: 5, Insightful
      but I want to know if you think that means that Google will go evil, but then see the light and turn themselves around? That's IBM.


      IBM is only not-evil to the extent that their business doesn't conflict with your zealotry.
      --
      Mmmm.. Donuts
  2. Again?? by tygerstripes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I for one welcome my...

    Jeez, is there anything these guys won't get there fingers in? Don't get me wrong, I like what they've done so far, but is it possible for a company to expand beyond a certain critical mass and still stick to the operating principle "Don't Be Evil"?

    I just hope the Geegees aren't going to turn nasty and suddenly warrant a big anti-monopoly order or somesuch. I just couldn't take the smug look on Bill's face...

    --
    Meta will eat itself
    1. Re:Again?? by linvir · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The problem is that as Google grows and grows off the back of low-key ads and simplicity, the rest of the industry isn't taking the hint. So Google is pretty much alone in filling this gap in each area of the web.

      Don't worry though. If they really start to take over, the bean counters will catch on, and companies might actually start to compete with Google on their terms. I think this might have already happened at Yahoo, but even then most of of that page is taken up by an irrelevant photo.