First mooted at CES in Las Vegas in January 5 months ago, Google and Dell have finally come to an agreement under which Dell will install Google software on millions of its PCs before they’re shipped to consumers.

The planned deal will be for approximately three years, and Google will pay Dell a fee (rumoured to be over $1 billion) to have its desktop and email search software pre-installed on Dell PCs, along with a Google Web search bar.

Dell will also make the PCs’ default homepage a co-branded webpage, and the machines’ default search engine will be set to Google.

In a statement to Pocket-lint Google said, "We have heard from customers that they want tools that enable them to search and organize their emails, documents, photos, and music quickly and easily. Google and Dell are pleased to partner to enhance customers' out-of-the-box information search and organization experience."

Pundits are saying that the partnership is likely a blow to Microsoft, who have long installed their web software as a tagalong to Windows on PCs from various manufacturers.

In January, Dell announced that they had entered talks with search engine Google that could see the search engine's software application including the Google toolbar pre-installed on every new Dell computer sold across the globe.

Bob Kaufman, a spokesman for Dell, said at the time that the company was evaluating some elements of the Google software pack.

"We are running a test with Google that could include a Google-powered Dell home page, Google desktop search and a Google toolbar", Mr Kaufman said.

Google also confirmed the trials were taking place. "We are conducting a test of some of our software via Dell", a spokesman said at the time.

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