CES: Google to offer video, software dowloads, report says

IDG News Service - Google Inc. plans to announce tomorrow a new service that will allow consumers to buy and download videos from its Web site, and it will unveil a downloadable bundle of software applications, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing sources familiar with the matter.

"We aren't commenting on any new planned services," a Google spokeswoman said. "All we're saying is that we have a number of exciting announcements that we will be making on Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show."

As part of a major upgrade to Google's video-search service, consumers will be able to pay to download and view videos, such as television shows, on their computer from Google content partners such as TV companies, according to the newspaper report. Google plans to announce partnerships with some major players, including CBS Corp. and the National Basketball Association, the report said.

In addition, the Mountain View, Calif.-based search company plans to announce Google Pack, a bundle of software from Google and other companies that consumers will be able to download and install on their computers, according to the report. The software bundle will include the open-source Firefox Web browser, a version of Norton AntiVirus software from Symantec Corp., Adobe Systems Inc.'s Reader software and RealNetworks Inc.'s RealPlayer multimedia software.

The release of Google Pack comes as Google and Microsoft Corp., both battling for users of online services, view applications that direct users to online services as a powerful tool.

Reprinted with permission from

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