Google has notified merchants that Google Checkout will no longer be available as of November 20, 2013, and that they will need to make preparations to use different payment processing platform.

Google Checkout actually merged with the new Google Wallet - a platform that enables merchants to meet the demands of a multi-screen world where consumers shop in-stores, at their desks and on their mobile devices.

Justin Lawyer, senior product manager, Google Wallet outlined the change in a blog post, stating that just last week, we announced two enhancements to the Google Wallet platform that are simple to integrate. The Instant Buy API enables merchants to offer a fast buying experience to Google Wallet shoppers buying physical goods and services on their Android apps and websites, while processing their own payments. In addition, the new Wallet Objects API enables merchants to engage their customers with loyalty, offers, and more.

All Google Play developers will continue to be supported. Also, shoppers can continue to use Google Wallet to make safer and more secure payments anywhere they see the Google Wallet button.

What this means is: If you don't have your own payment processing, you will need to transition to a different solution within six months. To make things easier, Google has partnered with Braintree, Shopify and Freshbooks to offer you discounted migration options.

U.S. merchants that do not have payment processing, can apply for Google Wallet Instant Buy, which offers a fast buying experience to Google Wallet shoppers.