Google last week announced the release of a search utility that allows users to search the pages of books that Google has added to its search indexes through partnerships with libraries and
publishers, read short excerpts, and purchase the books online. The service, which launched Friday, is still in beta, and is adding new indexed books every day. The search indexes both copyrighted and
uncopyrighted material, although only small excerpts are available for books still under copyright. The search service also includes sponsored links culled from AdWords advertisers, and refers users
to Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Booksense, or Froogle to purchase books online--but according to Google, no revenue is generated by the non-Froogle referrals.
--Shankar Gupta