Google might be ready to get its Google Checkout service in line with the hiring of a new executive to oversee the division.
The New York Times reported that Google has hired former eBay executive Stephanie Tilenius as vice president of commerce, with marching orders to look over Google Checkout. Tilenius, who worked on eBay's PayPal product while at the company, would seem a natural fit for the position.
Google Checkout gave eBay and PayPal executives fits when it was first announced back in 2006. But the service hasn't done much to halt PayPal's status as the de facto standard for online transactions by small businesses and Web sites.
Recent problems with Google Checkout have had merchants up in arms, exposing holes in Google's customer service operation. Google Checkout is a key part of Google's mobile strategy, however, serving as the payment processing platform for the Android Market and the only way to buy a Nexus One.
A Google representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tilenius' role at Google.