Google Checkout is born

Google’s long-awaited payments system was finally launched this week under the name Google Checkout rather than the much-anticipated Gbuy. The service will be offered to existing advertisers only, at least for now, and Google has announced an attractive incentive to stimulate take-up. Says Wired:

Merchants won’t have to pay processing fees on purchases totaling 10 times their advertising volume with Google. That means an advertiser spending $20,000 per month at Google wouldn’t pay any processing fees on purchases totaling $200,000. After the spending threshold is exceeded, Google will charge merchants a fee equal to 2 percent of the purchase amount, plus 20 cents per transaction. PayPal’s processing fees range between 1.9 percent and 2.9 percent of the purchase amount plus 30 cents per transaction. The model that has proven successful so far. PayPal handled $27.5 billion in online transactions last year, generating $1 billion in revenue for the company. It currently has about 105 million users worldwide.

Update: the official post is here.

Gmail goes mobile

Google has announced that its Gmail web email service will be available on mobile phones.

“To access Gmail, users simply visit http://gmail.com through the web browser on their mobile phone and sign in to their Gmail account as they would on the web. Because every mobile device is different, Gmail automatically optimizes the interface for each phone. Users can also view attached photos and documents from their phone, and reply-by-call to people whose phone number is stored in their Gmail account. Gmail messages are automatically synchronized, regardless of whether Gmail is accessed from a mobile device or through the web.”

Update: Meanwhile, Microsoft has announced the formation of The Windows Client Mobility Marketing Team. Says eWeek:

“While small—run by Mika Krammer, director of Windows product management, it currently consists of fewer than 20 people—the group’s existence signals a shift in thinking and emphasis toward mobile computing at the software giant.”

Jellyfish means discounts

A new shopping comparison site which is slightly different model has launched. Jellyfish.com has signed up retailers who may the site a commission on all sales, at least half of which is shared with the shopper. In a transparent shopping enviornment on the web it is difficult to believe that the discounted rate is truly the lowest on the web, but the psychology might just work – and the interface is really clear and simple to use.