Google mulls micropayment system for content

Google, the search giant, is working with news sites on a micropayment system that would help media companies charge money for articles, greater news access and subscriptions.

The proposal, which is at its very preliminary stage, was reported by Neiman Journalism Lab saying that Google is pushing its checkout system as a payment broker between news sellers and consumers.

The newspapers that want to charge for digital content can use this system.

"The Newspaper Association of America asked Google to submit some ideas for how its members could use technology to generate more revenue from their digital content, and we shared some of those ideas in this proposal," a statement from Google's public relations department to Nieman Lab said Wednesday.

The Association sent a request for paid content proposals to several technology companies, for which many have sent their plans.

"It's consistent with Google's effort to help publishers reach bigger audiences, better engage their readers and make more money," it added.