Hasta La Gadget!

Google is going to get into the coupon business, damn it–whether that means buying the leader in the field (Groupon) or launching a direct competitor. The former didn’t work out so well–while the company reportedly came really close to securing a multi-billion Groupon buyout, but the coupon site ultimately opted to stay independent.

Now Google is apparently starting from scratch with its own Groupon-like site, Google Offers. Mashable managed to grab some info on the yet-to-be-launched Offers. Google confirmed the existence of the site (a welcome change from most companies’ “we don’t comment on speculation” comment), telling the blog,

Google is communicating with small businesses to enlist their support and participation in a test of a pre-paid offers/vouchers program. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new products, such as the recent Offer Ads beta, that connect businesses with customers in new ways. We do not have more details to share at this time, but will keep you posted.

And here’s the explanation from the Offers fact sheet,

Google Offers is a new product to help potential customers and clientele find great deals in their area through a daily e-mail.

Sounds pretty familiar, huh? The user gets an e-mail and has a limited amount of time to respond to it. Offers will utilize Google Checkout and will have the requisite social connections (Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, and Buzz–remember Buzz?).

Google in the process of recruiting businesses to join the upcoming service. In fact, Mashable seems to have gotten its hands on just such a document.

Google head Eric Schmidt addressed the company’s admittedly “complicated” management structure today, by offering up a “simplified” version, which featured some significant changes to the way the company is run. Schmidt’s own job will be shifting from CEO to executive chairman, stepping aside to make room for co-founder Larry Page, a role he will start in on April 4th.

“In this new role I know he will merge Google’s technology and business vision brilliantly,” wrote Schmidt. “I am enormously proud of my last decade as CEO, and I am certain that the next 10 years under Larry will be even better! Larry, in my clear opinion, is ready to lead.”

As for Schmidt’s own new gig, “I will focus wherever I can add the greatest value: externally, on the deals, partnerships, customers and broader business relationships, government outreach and technology thought leadership that are increasingly important given Google’s global reach; and internally as an advisor to Larry and Sergey.”

Page’s co-founder Sergey Brin, meanwhile, will take the official title “co-founder.” Easy enough. According to Schmidt, he will, “devote his time and energy to strategic projects, in particular working on new products.”

Look! Proof! A picture! Now if we could just get Perry and Zooey Deschanel in a room together, just to make sure that they are, in fact, different people.