Microsoft's promotion of the Google Deskbar comes as it works to deliver a beta version of its own MSN Search engine and a desktop search application by the end of this year.
"We should see some good MSN search technology in this calendar year, probably late in the second half, and we're going to have a heck of a great race in search between Google, Microsoft and Yahoo (Inc.). It will be really fun to follow," Microsoft Chief Financial Officer John Connors said last week during the company's quarterly earnings call.
Inclusion of the Google Deskbar in the Windows Partner Pack is an example of how Google can be a partner for Microsoft's large Windows group while at the same time a rival to MSN, a relatively small Microsoft group that in June ended its first profitable year ever, said Joe Wilcox, a Washington, D.C.-based Jupiter Research senior analyst.
"While the MSN Search folks may be in hot competition with Google, for the Windows platform Google is a valuable partner," Wilcox said.
Google spokesman Steve Langdon said bundling the Deskbar in the Windows Partner Pack is an example of industry collaboration. "From time to time we work with Microsoft and this is an example of that," he said.
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