Google is preparing to launch a new store for online business software, people briefed by the company told the Wall Street Journal late Monday.
The search giant's store will feature online business software designed by other developers to integrate and add capabilities to Google Apps, its existing online services that handle email, word-processing and spreadsheet functions, sources told the Journal.
Google is expected to announce the new store as soon as March, they added.
"The Google Solutions Marketplace makes it easy for our enterprise customers to connect with an ecosystem of products and professional services. We're constantly working with our partners to deliver more solutions to businesses, but we have nothing to announce at this time," a Google spokesperson told CNBC.
Over time, the Internet search-engine aims to allow users to purchase the new online software through its store, taking a cut for itself and sharing some with the developers, the Journal reported.
Google will also allow users to quickly access their purchased applications through the menu at the top of their screens while they are within Gmail or Google Docs — its word-processing and spreadsheet software — the people told the newspaper.
Shares in Google closed 0.6 percent higher at $53.30 on Monday.