Google, the world's largest computer search company, will promote word processing and office software from Sun Microsystems.

Some analysts say the alliance is a step toward challenging Microsoft's dominance of the software industry.

At a news conference late Tuesday, Sun and Google offered a vision of working together to build the next generation of the Internet, but gave few specific details.

Google is used by 78 million people each month, which could help Sun draw users from Microsoft products. 

Currently, products made by software giant Microsoft run the vast majority of personal computers around the world.