Report: Google to offer video, software downloads

Google plans to announce Friday a new service that will allow consumers to buy and download videos from its Web site, and a downloadable bundle of software applications, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday, 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 make 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 WSJ report. Google plans to announce partnerships with some major players, including CBS and the National Basketball Association, the report said.

In addition, the Mountain View, California, 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, Adobe Systems' Reader software, and RealNetworks' RealPlayer multimedia software.

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