Google: Checkout This

Google(GOOG Quote) is putting even more of its weight into promoting its Checkout service.

The search giant kicked off a plan earlier this month to offer $10 discounts for first-time users of Checkout, which lets Web surfers make purchases on the Internet in a few easy clicks.

And earlier this week, Google began promoting its new offer by plugging it in what may be the most premium territory on the Internet: An ad for Checkout is now posted on Google's home page, directly under the search box. Search results for some retail items also display a link that allows users to rerun the search incorporating only results for vendors under the Checkout umbrella. ...