Is Google checkout the answer?

It looks as though it may well be. As long as you don't mind a user completing their purchase transaction away from your site.

Google's Checkout system is the most recent arrivals of the big checkout processing payment gateways. Worldpay and PayPal have lead the way for many over recent years, but with some agreesive marketing Google Checkout has made itself a force to be reckoned with.

I can't see a compelling reason to use anyone else. With great integration features, fraud checks, a powerful API, order tracking, linking to Google Analytics and savings for AdWords users it has a lot going for it!

Plus, everyone trusts Google! Seeing their badge across payment systems can be reassuring to customers that are unfamilar with your site.

Following Google back to the UK

I've arrived back in the UK and bring exciting news with me about everyone's favorite search giant, Google.

The company has announced the UK launch of their 'Google Checkout' - see http://checkout.google.co.uk - product which has been widely touted as a potential competitor to online payments giant PayPal - http://www.paypal.co.uk. It's been available US retailers for some time, and this comes as good news to UK retailers by adding further options to what is still a relatively uncompetitive part of the online market.

PayPal has plenty of experience in the market and as with all new comers, I'll treat Google's service as a touch of caution. However the company's record speaks for itself - when it does something, it tends to work very hard to do it well.

Introductory offers are bound to tempt clients in. This includes free service until 2008 to retailers. It looks like a good option to provide for users at the moment, but I'm not sure I'd be ready to use it as my sole payment provider. PayPal have had to overcome a number of problems as their system has matured - I'l be interested to see how well prepared Google's new system really is.

We'll be doing some research and experimentation over the coming weeks. Then I'll give you a full review of whether I think it's ready for you!