Checking out Google Checkout

Google, once known just for search, now offers everything from e-mail to classified ads. Add one more possible service to the list: Word is that Google is getting ready to roll out a shopping cart system of some sort.

Bloggers are speculating that a new Google Checkout domain, registered anonymously, really belongs to the search engine company. Given the recent tie-up between Yahoo and eBay, news of a potential e-commerce business from the company set the rumor mills running.

What will Google Checkout be? No one's sure for now, though there was plenty of speculation as to what the company could be using it for, with particular emphasis on some sort of wallet or shopping cart program.

Blog community response:

"Google has come under some intense criticism lately, not just for being secretive about how AdSense works but for squeezing money from its smaller clients, and for not doing enough about click fraud. The last thing Google wants is for confidence in AdSense to crumble, which would explain an effort to track legitimate purchases. What could be more effective than integrating a payment system right into AdSense itself?"
--Ars Technica

"Either way it sounds to me - should it ever appear - like an initial answer to Yahoo + eBay....and a way to tie in more tightly with SMBs online."
--Search Engine Lowdown

"The chatter on the Web seems to be focusing heavily on the googlecheckout.com registration--but we're curious to see what's in the works with Google and MasterCard. It could be something very similar to the PayPal + MasterCard tie-up; but Google's also got a history of seeking unique partnerships with large companies."
--Simple SEM