America Online today launched AOL Mobile Search Services, which brings search capabilities and local information to mobile users.
The service, which has been in beta since July, allows mobile users to
perform Web searches just as they would on a desktop computer, as well as
access any Web site.
It also provides comparison-shopping capabilities for
products and access to local listings from mobile phones, smartphones and
PDAs.
The suite of new mobile search services automatically adapts results pages
to mobile screens and gives users access to the Pinpoint Shopping Search and
AOL Yellow Pages.
The key to moving the technology from the desktop to the mobile space has
been AOL’s ability to “right-size” the Internet for the small screens found
on mobile products.
Mobile search uses transcoding and content analysis
technologies to adapt search results and Web pages for browser-enabled
mobile phones, according to the company.
This latest mobile search move by AOL comes as Web companies continue to
increase business by providing services that can be accessed away from users’
personal computers.
Just as a desktop user has the ability to search the Web using words or
phrases, the service lets users access all Web content, not just the
WAP-enabled pages accessible through other mobile browsers, according to
AOL.
Once the process is set in motion, results are automatically formatted
to the user’s mobile screen size, and links are clickable.
In July, Yahoo expanded its search possibilities for
mobile users, with the launch of SMS Search and enhanced Search on Mobile.