Real Networks is to offer Google Toolbar and Mozilla Firefox Web browser with RealPlayer, its popular media player app, under a new multi-year distribution agreement. The deal, announced on Wednesday, extends a previous distribution agreement with Google while establishing a new download agreement with the Mozilla Corporation.

The deal means that whenever users install RealPlayer, they will be given the option to also install either the Google Toolbar or Firefox. The distribution agreement will soon be extended to include downloads of Real's Rhapsody music service and RealArcade games. Real Networks said it "regularly distributes" more than 2m items of software a day worldwide.

In other Firefox-related news, the Mozilla Foundation pushed out a new version of its popular web browser software on Wednesday. Firefox version 1.5.0.6 fixes a stability issue with previous versions of the browser, involving the playing of Windows Media files. ®

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