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Google Unwraps the Google Pack

Free Software Package Offers Users One Stop to Discover, Install and Maintain a Wide Range of Essential PC Programs

CES, LAS VEGAS, Nev., January 6, 2006 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced Google Pack beta, a free collection of safe, useful software from Google and other companies that improves the user experience online and on the desktop. In just a few clicks, users can easily discover, install and maintain software to surf the web faster and safer, communicate better, and effectively manage information.

"We’ve heard from countless new computer owners that it can take days or weeks to install all the software they need to make their computer useful," said Marissa Mayer, VP of search products and user experience at Google. "We developed Google Pack to give users a way to painlessly install all the essential software they need – pre-configured in a sensible way – in a matter of minutes. Better yet, users don’t have to keep track of software updates or new programs – we maintain and update all the software for them."

Google Pack offers programs that meets Google’s high software standards and are considered best in their class, including:

  • Adobe Reader 7
  • Ad-Aware SE Personal
  • GalleryPlayer HD Images
  • Google Desktop
  • Google Earth
  • Google Pack Screensaver
  • Google Talk
  • Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar
  • Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition
  • Picasa
  • RealPlayer
  • Trillian

Google Pack also includes Google Updater, a new tool that intelligently downloads, installs and maintains all the software in the Google Pack. Google Updater alerts users when updates and new programs become available and ensures each program is always up-to-date. Google Updater can also be used to monitor the status of installation, run software that’s been installed, or easily uninstall software.

Users can easily select which programs they want to install. For programs already installed on a computer, Google Updater checks whether the latest version is running. If not, Google Updater will install the latest version.

Every program included in the Google Pack is free, has earned a reputation for excellence, and was evaluated to ensure it meets Google’s Software Principles. Google respects users’ rights to control their own computers and does not include software that is spyware, generates pop-ups, or that is difficult to uninstall. Additional information on Google’s Software Principles is available at www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/software_principles.html.

Google Pack beta is available in English, runs on Windows XP, and supports Firefox 1.0 and higher and Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher. More info on Google Pack is available at pack.google.com.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Additional Information from Google Pack Partners

Adobe Systems Incorporated

Free Adobe Reader 7.0 software enables users to view, print, search, and interact with Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. "Google Pack is a convenient, easy way for consumers to be sure they have the latest versions of important, free software applications," said Kurt Garbe, vice president, Platform Business Unit, Adobe Systems Incorporated. "By including the ubiquitous Adobe Reader in Google Pack, Google is helping ensure consumers will be able to reliably view, print and interact with Adobe PDF files, the de facto standard for electronic documents exchanged on the Web and over email."
Media Contact: John Cristofano, jcristof@adobe.com, 408-536-4135

Cerulean Studios
Trillian is an award-winning communications software client, with support for interoperable IM, voice and video. "We’re very excited for Trillian to be included in Google Pack, as we at Cerulean Studios have always been very focused on giving end-users the highest quality experience possible," said Scott Werndorfer, Co-founder, Cerulean Studios. "We believe this goal aligns Trillian perfectly with Google Pack."
Media Contact: Scott Werndorfer, marketing@ceruleanstudios.com, 203-775-6310

GalleryPlayer Media Networks

GalleryPlayer Media Networks programs the world’s finest HD art and photography to high resolution displays for the residential and commercial markets through a variety of distribution platforms including Cable and Satellite, Internet and Private Networks. "Today’s Digital Consumer wants easily accessible tools, services, upgrades and downloads at their fingertips," said Rusty Citron, GalleryPlayer Media Networks vice president of marketing. Google Pack defines the essence of this new model, and as the line between online media and software continues to blur, it is products like GalleryPlayer that will drive traffic and brand loyalty."
Media Contact: Martin Levy, martin@martinlevypr.com, 206-851-7256

Lavasoft AB

Ad-Aware SE Personal is an antispyware program from the industry pioneer Lavasoft AB, offering solid protection against online trespassers prying on Internet activities, enabling users to maintain a high degree of privacy while surfing the Web. "Lavasoft is excited to team with Google to include its award-winning and industry-leading antispyware solution in Google Pack," said Merja Turpeinen, Marketing & PR Coordinator at Lavasoft AB. "We are pleased to help Google deliver a privacy protection package to their users."
Media Contact: Merja Turpeinen, merja@lavasoft.de, +358 9 6932220

Mozilla

Firefox is the safer, easy-to-use, and innovative Web browser from Mozilla. "We are excited that Firefox will be included in the Google Pack," said Christopher Beard, Vice President of Products at Mozilla. "Enabling easier access to Firefox through the Google Pack means many more people will get to enjoy a better Web experience."
Media Contact: Mary Colvig, mcolvig@arpartners.com, 650-762-2820

RealNetworks

RealPlayer offers an easy-to-use product for consumers to access and manage all their digital media from one convenient place. "For nearly two years, RealNetworks and Google have been working together on new ways to give consumers easy access to our products and services," said Jeff Chasen, vice president of RealNetworks’ RealPlayer division. "We’re excited that RealPlayer, already an integral part of consumers’ web experience, will now be available as part of the Google Pack of essential software."
Media Contact: Ronda Scott,rscott@real.com, 415-934-2016

Symantec

Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition provides home users who are using the Internet, exchanging emails, Instant Messages and downloading content with essential and continually updated protection against viruses and other common Internet threats. Google Pack users will receive an introductory 6-month subscription to Symantec’s virus protection updates and, once the subscription expires, will have the option to purchase a 12-month subscription renewal. "Symantec estimates that 30-40% of all connected consumer systems are not adequately protected," said Enrique Salem, senior vice president, security products and solutions, Symantec Corp. "We are pleased to work with Google to provide a Special Edition version of our market-leading Norton AntiVirus to help Google users surf the Internet, use email and exchange instant messages free from worry about Internet viruses and other threats."
Media Contact: Kelly Davis, kelly_davis@symantec.com, 310-633-5199

Media Contact:

Sonya Borälv
sonya@google.com
650-253-1821

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Google is a registered trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

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