The initial venue for the Google mini-app will be downloads of the popular and free Shockwave multimedia player.

The move is seen by some observers as an effort to outflank Microsoft , especially as Internet Explorer 7 nears its formal launch this summer. The next version of Microsoft's Web browser software will default to MSN search rather than Google.

Interestingly, Google's search toolbar will be available only when Shockwave is downloaded for use with Internet Explorer on Windows .

Counter Strike

"Teaming up with Adobe is not earth-shattering," said Laura DiDio, a Yankee Group analyst. "But the fact that they're doing it for Internet Explorer on Windows is Google giving another jab at Microsoft."

Jeffrey Mann, an analyst at Gartner, offered a similar take. "This is clearly part of a pattern," he said.

Mann pointed out that Google is looking for many different ways to reach eyeballs, especially as the launch of Windows Vista and Office 2007 draws closer. Much like Internet Explorer 7, these Microsoft mainstays will default to Microsoft's own search service .

Windows Vista is expected to be released for businesses later this year and for consumers in early 2007. Office 2007 is slated to be released next year as well.

Replacing Yahoo Toolbar

Google Toolbar will be available immediately by default with the Shockwave player download, but users can opt not to install it.

The Google app replaces Shockwave's current Yahoo Toolbar option, although the Yahoo option will continue to be bundled with downloads of Adobe's Flash player and the Adobe PDF Reader, at least for now.

In addition to offering a direct link to the company's search service, Google Toolbar includes a spellchecker, a word translator, a pop-up blocker, and a Web page form filler.

Google Toolbar also enables users to create bookmarks that are accessible from any computer, and share Web content with other users through Gmail, blogs, or text messaging for mobile phones.

In the past year, Google has made deals to preinstall its Google Desktop software -- an application designed to replace the built-in Windows search tools -- on Dell Computers and Lexar USB drives.