Dell, Google Confirm Testing of Software

Dell Inc. and Google Inc. confirmed Tuesday that they were testing a preinstalled package of Google software on Dell computers, a potential blow to Microsoft Corp.’s dominance of the desktop software business.

Bob Kaufman, a spokesman for Dell, the world’s leading personal computer maker, said his company was evaluating Google software that PC customers could use to search both the public Web and for local information stored on their PCs.

“We can confirm that we are running a test with Google that could include a Google-powered Dell home page, Google desktop search and a Google toolbar,” Kaufman said.

“We are conducting a test of distribution of some of our software via Dell,” Google spokesman Jon Murchinson said.

Dell and Google spokesmen were responding to a report in the Wall Street Journal that described the inroads Google appeared to be making with personal computer makers including Dell and No. 2 vendor Hewlett-Packard Co.

An HP spokesman declined to comment.

The report, citing unnamed sources, said Dell and Google were in talks to put Google software on as many as 100 million new Dell PCs after a bidding process in which Google edged out Microsoft and after Yahoo Inc. withdrew.

Microsoft spokesman Neil Charney declined to comment on specifics of the report.