Google forms a tech pack to take on Gates

THE bitter battle between Google and Microsoft escalated on Friday as the search firm announced it would head an alliance of Microsoft’s rivals.

Called Google Pack, the alliance offers free of charge many of the services available from Microsoft’s world-leading Windows program.

The alliance was unveiled by Google co-founder Larry Page at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Last week Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, dismissed Google as an over-hyped “media darling”. In an interview before his appearance at the show Gates downplayed the impact of any Google launches.

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