In yet another shot across Microsoft's bow, Google is expected to announce today the release of Google Pack, a software bundle that includes not only Google goodies but also the Firefox browser, open-source instant message product Trillian, Norton AntiVirus, and RealPlayer, writes MediaPost. Also included in the bundle are Google Desktop Search, Google Earth, Picasa, Google Talk, and the Google Toolbar.

Greater distribution for Firefox, which includes a Google search bar, would directly benefit Google and counter Microsoft's expected incorporation of its own search toolbar in the next version of Internet Explorer.

Google Pack might also signify Google's intentions to move into content delivery and management.

"At first, maybe they were thinking 'we think we can do web search better,'" he said. "Now, they're probably thinking, 'the way you access information, the way you get at data - we think we can do that better, too,'" Search expert Gary Stein is quoted as saying.