READ: Google plans PayPal rival?

**TechZ** · June 21st, 2005, 07:00 AM

Google this year plans to offer an electronic-payment service that could help the company diversify its revenue and may heighten competition with eBay's PayPal unit, the Wall Street Journal has reported. Exact details of the search company's planned service are not known, the report said, but quoted people familiar with the matter as saying it could have similarities with PayPal, which allows consumers to pay for purchases on web sites by funding electronic-payment accounts from their credit cards or checking accounts. A Google spokesman declined to comment.

For Google, a payment service could represent a significant expansion beyond online advertising, which generated 99 per cent of its $US3.2 billion ($4.12 billion) in revenue last year, the paper said. Online-payment providers typically take a commission on each transaction.

News source: Australian IT

**TechZ** · June 21st, 2005, 07:00 AM

Considering its Google, I would have some doubts as to information privacy.

**El_Squid** · June 21st, 2005, 08:03 AM

I don't trust any online payment methods/schemes. All of my transactions are still paper checks via snail mail. Not that I have all that much to lose, but I'd like to keep what I do have.

**TechZ** · June 21st, 2005, 10:54 AM

I would like to have ONE online payment method, as I've wanted a few things over the years, that could have only been bought online, and with no CC, well not a lot of places offer alternatives, and PayPal dont deal with any bank in Bahrain, yet.

**El_Squid** · June 21st, 2005, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by TechZ

I would like to have ONE online payment method, as I've wanted a few things over the years, that could have only been bought online, and with no CC, well not a lot of places offer alternatives, and PayPal dont deal with any bank in Bahrain, yet.

I'm surprised that Bahrain, nor its banks, have not started their own online payment system. The resources and the capital are definitely there, so must I assume there is not a widespread need for it? Perhaps, that would be a great business line for you to start, or help develop, ey?

**TechZ** · June 21st, 2005, 01:44 PM

They have one I think, but its linked to having a post paid mobile line or something of the kind. I'm trying to use my other bank account (in another country) to use PayPal.