Adobe said it had begun distributing Google search software with new downloads of its Macromedia Shockwave. The multimedia playback software allows users to view interactive Web programming such as games, entertainment, business presentations and advertisements via a Web browser.

This and similar recent deals to pre-install Google software marks a change of course for the icon of Web search, which historically has incurred little upfront cost to attract customers to its services. Instead, it has shared a portion of advertising revenue with partners that drive traffic its way.

The deal calls for people to receive Google Toolbar Web search software each time they download the Shockwave player for use with an Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.

Google is racing to do deals with software and computer makers to ensure convenient access to its search software ahead of the arrival of Vista, the new version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system, promised for final release in January 2007.

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