Google closing Checkout

Google has given vendors until 20 November to find an alternative to its Checkout service, but Wallet users will continue to be able to make purchases.

Although we never got the full range of Wallet features in Australia, we have been able to use it to make online purchases through the Google Play store and vendors accepting payments via Google Checkout.

In a post on the Google Commerce blog, the web giant has announced that it will be closing the Checkout service for vendors as it makes a push toward higher use of its revamped Wallet.

For vendors selling physical goods, Google will not be offering a replacement service. These vendors will need to migrate to a third-party alternative, and has partnered with Braintree Payments, Shopify and Freshbooks to make the transition as smooth as possible.

For vendors selling digital goods, Google has updated Google Wallet to include Google Wallet Objects, its new platform for selling items such as ebooks, music and games.

Vendors on Google Play will continue to be able to use Google payment processing through the recently launched Google Instant Buy, which allows for both purchases through Google Play on desktop and mobile, and in-app payments.

For shoppers, not much has changed; although they will no longer be able to make purchases via Google Wallet for physical goods, it will still be available for Google Play purchases and digital goods.

"We'd like to thank our merchant partners that have used Google Checkout, and we look forward to helping many more businesses grow with Google Wallet," the company said.

Google has made an FAQ available for vendors about the changes on its support page.