MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google Inc. continued the expansion of its mobile applications portfolio with a wireless version of its Google News service.
Google News for mobiles, which can be accessed via a link on the company’s mobile Web site, allows users to search for news topics or browse categories for updated headlines and stories. Like Google’s PC service, the wireless version sends users directly to the Web page of the news source.
However, only sources whose content has been designed specifically for wireless handsets are displayed through the service, offering news agencies an incentive to make their content mobile-friendly. Google News for mobile users is available only in the United States, although the company said it is “exploring opportunities to make the service available in other international markets.”
The news marks Google’s latest effort to target wireless users with Internet-based services. Earlier this week, the company announced a deal to integrate its blogging and Web search features on Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P. handsets.
Sony Ericsson said it plans to pre-load the blogging application on its camera phones to encourage users to create photos and post journals with the images. Under terms of the deal, Google will be the standard search engine for all new Internet-capable phones from the manufacturer.
The agreement highlights the growing trend by search companies to partner with established wireless players. Google already has deals with Motorola Inc. and T-Mobile in Europe; Yahoo Inc. is working with carriers to secure prime deck placement for its offerings.
InfoSpace Inc. and JumpTap Inc. are also gaining traction in the space, delivering a white-label offering for carriers looking to deploy their own branded Internet-based mobile services. Others competing in the white-hot segment include go2, which claims it delivered more than 24 million unique user sessions last year, and 4INFO.
