Confirming rumors that it was to launch its own delivery service to rival Amazon, Google has begun testing its new "Shopping Express" service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Partnering with Target, Walgreens, Staples, American Eagle, and Toys"R"Us, as well as local coffee shops and independent stores, Google will offer early testers six months of free, unlimited same-day delivery.

Google will offer early testers six months of free, unlimited same-day delivery

Google's Shopping Express indexes the products available at participating retailers and makes them available to order via Google's own website. Testers can then book a delivery slot and have their products delivered to them by one of Google's delivery partners on the same day. We first heard about Google Shopping Express earlier in the month, when it was reported that Google would seek to charge a $69 yearly subscription, $10 cheaper than Amazon Prime. Leading the project is Tom Fallows, Google's e-commerce product manager, who is working to combine Google Wallet and Shopping with offerings from bricks-and-mortar retailers.

Google says that as it "works out the kinks," it will bring the pilot to new areas, but for now only residents of the city of San Francisco, and the Peninsula from San Mateo to San Jose, will be able to apply to test Google's new same-day delivery service.