Google co-founder Larry Page

The Wall Street Journal reports Thursday that Google plans to announce Friday that it will begin allowing consumers to buy videos from major content partners through the Google site and will also roll out a new downloadable bundle of software for consumers that could heighten Google's competition with Microsoft according to people familiar with the matter.

The Journal says that under the 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 computers from Google content partners such as TV companies, people familiar with the matter say. Google plans to announce partnerships with some major players tomorrow, including CBS Corp. and the National Basketball Association, these people say. By virtue of Google's huge presence online, the move could place Google in competition with other emerging powers in Internet distribution of video such as Apple Computer.

The news paper says that Google co-founder Larry Page plans to make the announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Google in a statement said, "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."

Google also 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. The Wall Street Journal says that the software will include the open-source Firefox Web browser, a version of Norton AntiVirus software from Symantec Corp., Adobe Systems Reader software, RealNetworks's RealPlayer multimedia software, Trillian instant-messaging software from Cerulean Studios and Lavasoft AB's Ad-Aware antispyware software. Google Pack will also include Google's own desktop search software, Google Earth satellite imaging and maps software, Picasa photo-management software, Google Talk instant-messaging program, its Toolbar add-on for Web browsers and screen saver software.

The launch of Google Pack will coincide with Microsoft's recently announced startegy to develop its online services and see applications installed on users' computers directing them to those online services as powerful weapons.

The Journal says that internal Google documents released as part of a recently settled employee-recruitment-related lawsuit between Google and Microsoft, indicate that Google executives have been concerned that Microsoft will increasingly try to push consumers toward Microsoft's online services, such as Web search, at the expense of Google. Microsoft could potentially use its coming Vista operating-system software and new version of its Web browser to do so.

Google Pack will be one route for Google to promote alternatives to Microsoft.