MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google plans to launch in Q4 of this year a new solution that will allow consumers to receive and pay bills inside Gmail.
Called Pony Express, the service also is designed to let consumers receive their bills easier in their e-mail inbox than in their mailbox outside their home, reports re/code. The effort also seeks to make it easier to pay bills within Gmail, rather than having to go to a telecom or utility company's website to complete a payment.
“It’s not clear whether Pony Express is a code name or one that’ll be used if it comes to market,” said re/code in its analysis.
With Pony Express, Google could obtain the type of financial data that would allow it to expand into new businesses, re/code assessed. “Credit card bills and payment history would be a gateway into industries such as personal finance or lending. And the data could be used to refine how advertisements are targeted to individuals on Google, YouTube and partnering sites, though such a move would likely stoke privacy concerns. It’s not clear whether Google would generate any revenue directly from the Pony Express service.”
The service works by a Gmail user providing personal information, such as their name, address and partial and full Social Security number to a third-party company that vets their identity, re/code explained. Users might also have to provide information such as a full credit card number or telephone service account number to get started, too.
According to re/code, it appears Google is partnering with third-party vendors that print and mail out bills on behalf of service providers such as insurance companies, telecom companies and utilities, adding that it’s not clear whether Google is also working directly with the service providers.