In a move that brings Google into closer competition with Yahoo, Microsoft and Apple, Google's expanded video service will offer content from major television partners on a pay-per-view model.Google Inc. plans to announce on Friday a new service that will allow users to buy videos from major content partners through its Web site, and will also announce a new bundled desktop software package, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The upgrade to Google's Video Search service will make pay-per-view videos available from partners such as CBS Corp. and the NBA (National Basketball Association), the report said.
Such a move by Google would put it in competition with Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes store, which began selling videos from television shows such as ABC Inc.'s "Lost" in October 2005.
An expanded Google Video Search service would also up the ante for Yahoo Inc., which offers its own video search.
Several spokespeople from Google declined to elaborate on the company's statement, which read, "We have a number of exciting announcements that we look forward to sharing in detail on Friday afternoon, during Larry's keynote address at CES."
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Spokespeople from CBS and the NBA both declined to comment.
Last month, Google made some changes to its video upload program policies that suggest that the company may be preparing to offer a pay-per-view service.
A recent MediaPost article noted that some videos on Google's video service displayed a text overlay "asking users to purchase the video to view its full length."
ZDNet blogger Garett Rogers also observed yesterday that Google will probably debut a stand-alone desktop client to complement its online video download service.
Internet pundit and reporter Om Malik recently said Google recognizes a substantial cash cow in video search and download.
Google announced its Google video program in January 2005. That original service allowed users to search the content of television programs from content providers that include PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), the NBA, Fox News Network LLC and C-SPAN, of National Cable Satellite Corp.
Google has continued to modify its video search since that debut.
In April 2005, Google announced its video upload program, which allows users to upload their own videos, which Google then analyzes and tags for search.
According to the Wall Street Journal article, Google also plans to announce Google Pack, a bundle of Google and other companies' software that users will be able to download from Google's Web site.
Google Pack will include Mozilla Foundation's Firefox Web browser, a version of Norton AntiVirus software from Symantec Corp., Adobe Systems Inc.'s Adobe Reader, RealNetworks Inc.'s RealPlayer multimedia software, Trillian instant-messaging software from Cerulean Studios and Lavasoft AB's Ad-Aware anti-spyware software.
Google will include its own desktop search software, Google Earth satellite imaging and maps software, Picasa photo-management software, Google Talk IM program, its Toolbar add-on for Web browsers, and screen saver software.
Google Pack comes at a time when the Mountain View, Calif., company is ramping up competition with software giant Microsoft Corp. The latter company has been promoting its online services, such as Microsoft Live.
Google Pack may also be Google's attempt to compete with Microsoft's upcoming Vista operating system and Internet Explorer 7, both of which will probably increase awareness and use of Microsoft's online services.
It's also possible that Google's software applications could eventually be used to transmit information directly to Google Base, Google's online repository for customer information and classified ads.
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