Walmart has changed its name

Wal-Mart is streamlining its name.

The world's largest retailer has has changed its legal name from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., to Walmart, the company announced Wednesday.

The Bentonville-Ark.-based company said it was making the change to reflect how customers refer to the company and to its focus on e-commerce.

"Why the change? Because of our growing presence as a retailer who serves customers no matter how they choose to shop," explained Wednesday's news release. "Changing our corporate name to Walmart is a way of better reflecting our company’s path to win the future of retail," according Wednesdays news posted on the retiler's corporate website.

"Now, we are focused on strengthening stores and clubs around the world to make sure customers continue to have a great experience every time they walk through the door. At the same time, we’re also building our eCommerce and digital capabilities, and we’re putting them together in a way that makes every day easier for busy families."

The name change won't affect merchandise in stores. The company has 11,600 stores and clubs in 28 countries, according to the release.

As Walmart goes head-to-head with Amazon.com, it has been focusing attention on online operations, acquiring Jet.com in August and for $3 billion in addition ShoeBuy, ModCloth, Moosejaw, Bonobos, Parcel and Hayneedle.

Walmart also is partnering with Google, allowing customers to order more than 2 million items through voice-enabled Google Home devices and through Google Express. Unlike Amazon Prime, which costs $99 per year for a membership to get free 2-day shipping, Google Express offers free delivery with no membership fee. Target and Costco also partner with Google Express.

The Walmart-Google alliance shows the companies are taking off the gloves to compete for online sales against Amazon as the company continues to disrupt traditional retail models with nearly 20 bricks-and-mortar retailers filing for bankruptcy in 2017.

Google announced Wednesday it would no longer offer YouTube content on Amazon Fire streaming devices as of Jan. 1 because Amazon refuses to sell Google streaming and voice devices.

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