Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Walking, Talking, Searching, Finding.



For the last few weeks, some of our users have been test-driving our new mobile search and providing us with feedback so we can make it better. Now, we've actually been using your feedback to improve our mobile search since 2001. But the steps we've taken recently have everyone here pretty excited, as they increase the power of our search technology, helping you get the answers you need with minimal effort and distraction.

Starting today, we're making our new mobile search openly available, so everyone can take it for a spin. The next time you visit Google.com on your phone, you'll see a link that will take you to a mobile search experience that's more tailored to your needs and enables you to:
  • Get the information you care about, right from your homepage. Because it can be difficult to manage small screens and small keypads, and because mobile search is often more about seeking specific information than browsing for extended periods, we've made it possible to add the information you're interested in directly to the mobile homepage. Ranging from movie listings to stock-market updates to website feeds or news snippets, these gadgets can be added with a simple click. You can then reorder, replace, or modify your gadgets however you like.
  • Get the answer you want with an absolute minimum of clicks. No one likes having to click on link after link to get the information they need. With our new mobile search UI, you'll never be more than a click or two away from the answer that you're after. One of the ways we've made this possible is to remember your recent search locations to serve relevant local results in subsequent searches—no need to retype the location every time; just select your location from the dropdown menu. Once you've entered a location, try searching for [movies] to see top movies playing in your area. Clicking on one of those movies directs you straight to the movie showtimes; one more click and you can even purchase tickets.
  • Get to the results that best fit what you're looking for. We realize that when you're on the go, you usually just want an answer to your query, rather than everything and the kitchen sink. So we're continually refining our algorithm-based search to intelligently produce the results you want. You won't need to sift through both mobile and regular web results, or specify your search type—local, image, web, etc.—as our new search experience will offer you results based on the nature of the query itself. So if you search for [bbc] on your device, you'll get a link to the mobile-friendly BBC website. Search for [us post office], and you'll get listings for the branches that are closest to your set location, and so on. No extra stuff that gets between you and the information you need.
So break out your phones, head to Google.com, and give our new mobile search experience a whirl. And, of course, don't forget to tell us what you think.

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