A marriage of convenience?

Dell and Google have agreed to the first in a series of deals to pre-install web and desktop search software on the PC maker's computers, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said on Thursday.

Speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference in Las Vegas, Schmidt discussed details of a long-rumoured deal between the number one search engine and the number one PC maker, which is a strike against Google rival Microsoft. Under the deal, millions of Dell PCs will be loaded with the Google toolbar for web and PC search, along with a co-branded homepage, before they're shipped to consumers.

Financial details were not disclosed but Schmidt said the companies will share revenue from search-advertising fees.

He said: "The real reason we do this is for users. [People] turn the Dell machine on, and everything is integrated right there. [This deal] is a turnkey solution for search."

A Dell representative said the deal will not hamper consumer choice on the Dell desktop, however: "Our motivation is to deliver customers tools that enable them to search and organise information quickly and easily, right out of the box... Dell customers will have the option of choosing Microsoft as their default if they prefer."

The deal covers Dell PCs sold to consumers and certain corporations.

Full story: silicon.com