(Image source: Gizmodo)

BY ADAM FALK

Perhaps searching for a way to compete with Amazon Prime, Google is reportedly working on a new, online delivery service. KING has more.

REPORTER: “The Wall Street Journal says Google is talking to major retailers, like Macy’s and Gap and also the shippers about starting its own service that would like consumers make purchases and get their orders within a day for a fee.”

While Google isn’t going to start warehousing the items on your holiday wish list, the initiative will combine retail sites with the existing Google Product Search. A service that Chicago Tribune says has taken a hit.  
 

“The success of Amazon Prime has caused some consumers to search for products directly on Amazon rather than on Google and has posed an additional threat to traditional retailers whose online offerings-and shipping times-often pale in comparison.”

So where’s Google’s cut? The company’s in it for more than page views and ad revenue, right? The New York Times reports.

“It is unclear whether Google would take a cut of the revenue from sales or make money only on merchant ads. Google does not take a portion of payments with the Google Wallet mobile app, but it does earn money from sales of Google Offers.”

Google Offers, Google Wallet, now Google ‘super shipping’ -- Business Insider reports this might be just another Google product that falls a little too far from the search-engine tree.

“Still, e-commerce fulfillment is a pretty big step removed from Google's core mission of organizing the world's information. Lack of focus has been a problem for the company, and CEO Larry Page has killed a lot of non-core products this year.”

The Atlantic sees Business Insider’s concern but notes...

“This venture, however, might actually enhance an existing, but underused feature (Google Product Search) without eating up too many resources in Mountain View.”

According to The New York Times, the service is in an early testing phase. Should the company go with it, the service will reportedly launch in a few cities, including San Francisco and New York.