Google exposed as 'œanonymous' eBay complainant in Australia

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Saturday, 31 May 2008 16:15

Opinion and Analysis

Because Google has only launched its PayPal competitor, Google Checkout, in the US and the UK, another line of thought suggests Google did not want to expose its likely intentions to launch Google Checkout into the Australian marketplace in the near future and did not want unnecessary scrutiny.

The Sydney Morning Herald contacted Google Australia’s spokesperson, Rob Shilkin, to find out, but Shilkin was only able to tell the newspaper that: "We're working hard to internationalise Google Checkout but have no timetable to announce in Australia at this stage”.

As UK tech news site The Register notes, “Unfortunately for Google, its ill-fated attempt to be discreet will probably draw more attention to its filing than if it had just signed its name.”

But what’s more important now is the ACCC’s decision on eBay’s original submission to compel eBay users to only use PayPal for transactions later this year, with the ACCC expected to hand down its decision in mid-June, before eBay’s proposed PayPal-only start date.