From The Next Web · Ana Maria Constantin · · 1m 10s
Google launches Universal Cart, but not in Europe
Google's new shopping feature works in Search and Gemini across the US, Canada, Australia and UK. The EU is conspicuously absent after a €890M fine.
In brief
Google's new shopping feature works in Search and Gemini across the US, Canada, Australia and UK. The EU is conspicuously absent after a €890M fine. Google launched Universal Cart in the US on Wednesday, letting shoppers buy from multiple retailers inside Search and Gemini, but excluded the EU following a competition…
Google launches Universal Cart in the US
Google launched Universal Cart in the US on Wednesday. The cart sits inside Search and the Gemini app, holds products from multiple retailers and takes payment through Google Pay.
How the cart works and who is involved
Universal Cart runs on sixty billion product listings in Google's Shopping Graph. Participating merchants include Nike, Sephora, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walmart, Wayfair and Shopify sellers. Each remains the seller of record.
Expansion plans skip the EU entirely
Google's roadmap names Canada, Australia and the UK for expansion next.The EU is never mentioned.
Google's response to EU pressure
Google was given sixty days to stop self-preferencing or face daily penalties of up to five percent of Alphabet's average worldwide turnover.
“degrade the user experience for Europeans”
The key point
Google launched Universal Cart in the US on Wednesday, letting shoppers buy from multiple retailers inside Search and Gemini, but excluded the EU following a competition fine for self-preferencing.
