Dinsan Francis has recently spotted a Chrome Cart feature being referred to in Chromium's code lines. While this feature isn't out yet, a deep dive into the code might allow us to take a glimpse into Chrome's future updates.
Google's no stranger to advertising. It's spent these past few weeks heavily promoting advertising venues such as Search Ads, relying on businesses auctioning for ad slots. Advertising does make up a significant chunk of the company's revenue stream, and so it only seems natural that Google would want an entire pit stop on its extremely popular browser service dedicated to online shopping. A trend which, it should be noted, has seen an unprecedented amount of growth owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the face of virtual marketing now altered, its time that businesses and brands adapt.
The Chrome Cart feature was identified as an experimental product in Chromium's code. Chromium, for those unfamiliar, is Google's open-source browser, with accessible code developers can use to build or expand upon their own browsers. Labelled NTP Chrome Cart Module, such a feature on it's own is not highly indicative of what the Cart is and what it entails for the browser. Chrome Cart could easily be a placeholder name for any marketing or advertising related features.
However, a tag was found, highlighting and grouping all code changes brought on by Cart. Lines such as Support Best Buy and Support Home Depot were quickly spotted and reported. With this in mind, one can begin to form an image of what Chrome Cart is aiming for.
The following speculation may not be completely accurate, but all things considered, is a safe bet. The service, having clearly established some amount of online connections, will look for content on the websites of said connections. Then, it will act as a catalogue of popular or high-end products being offered by them, allowing users to make purchases right off of the Chrome app or website, as opposed to going on a brand's website and hunting down what one is looking for.
Now while this is entirely theoretical, and things may pan out very differently, such a move will allow Chrome to place a very firm foot into the online shopping market. Google Chrome is a widely used browser service, with an estimated one billion active users currently. Brands get to tout their products on a popular landing page, Google gets a new income source. Seems like everyone wins.
As of yet, there is no offical news from Google regarding Chrome Cart. However, considering its code lines were spotted in open source Chromium browser, development on the feature may be well underway.
Read next: Google Chrome’s New Tab May Start Showing Product Recommendations
Google's no stranger to advertising. It's spent these past few weeks heavily promoting advertising venues such as Search Ads, relying on businesses auctioning for ad slots. Advertising does make up a significant chunk of the company's revenue stream, and so it only seems natural that Google would want an entire pit stop on its extremely popular browser service dedicated to online shopping. A trend which, it should be noted, has seen an unprecedented amount of growth owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the face of virtual marketing now altered, its time that businesses and brands adapt.
The Chrome Cart feature was identified as an experimental product in Chromium's code. Chromium, for those unfamiliar, is Google's open-source browser, with accessible code developers can use to build or expand upon their own browsers. Labelled NTP Chrome Cart Module, such a feature on it's own is not highly indicative of what the Cart is and what it entails for the browser. Chrome Cart could easily be a placeholder name for any marketing or advertising related features.
However, a tag was found, highlighting and grouping all code changes brought on by Cart. Lines such as Support Best Buy and Support Home Depot were quickly spotted and reported. With this in mind, one can begin to form an image of what Chrome Cart is aiming for.
The following speculation may not be completely accurate, but all things considered, is a safe bet. The service, having clearly established some amount of online connections, will look for content on the websites of said connections. Then, it will act as a catalogue of popular or high-end products being offered by them, allowing users to make purchases right off of the Chrome app or website, as opposed to going on a brand's website and hunting down what one is looking for.
Now while this is entirely theoretical, and things may pan out very differently, such a move will allow Chrome to place a very firm foot into the online shopping market. Google Chrome is a widely used browser service, with an estimated one billion active users currently. Brands get to tout their products on a popular landing page, Google gets a new income source. Seems like everyone wins.
As of yet, there is no offical news from Google regarding Chrome Cart. However, considering its code lines were spotted in open source Chromium browser, development on the feature may be well underway.
Read next: Google Chrome’s New Tab May Start Showing Product Recommendations
