Google launches subscription service -- Google One Pass

By Hayley Tsukayama

One day after Apple introduced its controversial subscription service, Google has announced that it will also offer a subscription service for digital content, called Google One Pass.

"With Google One Pass, publishers can customize how and when they charge for content while experimenting with different models to see what works best for them--offering subscriptions, metered access, 'freemium' content or even single articles for sale from their websites or mobile apps," Google wrote in its official blog. "The service also lets publishers give existing print subscribers free (or discounted) access to digital content. We take care of the rest, including payments technology handled via Google Checkout."

Customers who use One Pass will have single sign-on access to content on tablets, smartphones and Web sites with an e-mail and password. The service also lets publishers authenticate existing subscribers.

The service is available in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Publishers in these countries can submit their information on Google's Web site.

12:37 p.m. Google will keep 10 percent of One Pass revenue, the Guardian and other news sites report--considerably less than Apple's 30 percent share.