In the first expansion of a test it launched in the Bay Area in the spring, Google is inviting its employees in the Santa Monica area to try out its Google Shopping Express service. Several hundred people work for the company in the Los Angeles area. Google hopes to eventually extend the service to the general public.

The rollout may follow the pattern Google used with its Northern California launch. When the program began in March, only Google workers and a select group of applicants were allowed to participate. But since September, customers from San Francisco to San Jose have been able to use Google Shopping Express.

More than 15 retailers are involved in the Bay Area test, including Office Depot, Target, Toys R Us, Walgreens, L'Occitane and Whole Foods Market. Google did not disclose which merchants are on board for the Southern California test.

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