Edging closer to a direct confrontation with Microsoft Corp., Web search engine Google is preparing to introduce a powerful file-and-text software search tool for locating information stored on personal computers.
Google's software, which is expected to be introduced soon, according to several people with knowledge of the company's plans, is the clearest indication to date that the company, based in Mountain View, Calif., hopes to extend its search business to compete directly with Microsoft's control of desktop computing.
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