• by October 15, 2004

As expected, the search giant unveiled a beta version of a desktop search tool it's calling Google Desktop. The move, announced yesterday, signals Google's intention to take on Microsoft in the desktop search space. It was rather inevitable that Google would go after the Web search market. After all, there's ad revenue in them thar hills.

The Google Desktop will allow people to search e-mail in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, chat in AOL Instant Messenger, and view Web pages in Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The tool also will enable text searches and searches of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

Google's desktop software is available for a free download. Once the tool is downloaded, individuals can search the Web and their PC by going to Google.com.

Microsoft has its eyes trained on the desktop search space, and will incorporate search technology into the next version of its operating system due out in 2006. Microsoft also plans to offer its own Web and desktop search capability later this year.