Google unveils buy button on ads in mobile-commerce push

[SAN FRANCISCO] Google Inc is testing a new feature to let consumers purchase products by clicking through advertisements, seeking to expand options for mobile retail sales.

The Internet-search company's service, called Purchases on Google, will let users on smartphones click on select search ads that take them directly to a retailer-branded product page hosted by Google, according to an e-mailed statement. The tools will work with a "limited number of retailers" for now, the company said on Wednesday.

Google also unveiled efforts to alert smartphone users to information such as sales and loyalty programs at a local store. In addition, the company will make it simpler to use ads to drive consumers to shopping apps.

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