Mobile search is the new black: a roundup

With all of the buzz surrounding mobile search, and Nokia's release of their offering today, we thought it would be a good time to bring you a roundup of what's out there in the mobile search space. If anybody knows of any other current or impending rollouts, please post up in the comments and we'll add 'em in — thanks!

• Google SMS — basic Google searches via SMS, includes local search

• Google mobile web — searches only sites formatted for mobile devices

• Yahoo SMS

• Yahoo mobile — mobile version of the Yahoo portal, with web, image and local search

• Nokia

• AOL Mobile Search

• Technorati mobile

• 4info.net — local info, stock quotes, sports scores, movie times

[Alric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

The Google web search is better than a mobile web search. It will look up ANY page and format it to mobile view. For those of us with WAP only access is the only way to access non-wap or other wise blocked sites.

T-Mobile for some reason only allows some WAP content to come through. But Google opens up the rest!

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

AOL has a mobile "Seatch"? Wow, I had no idea. Proof your news.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Here is an interesting new mobile site (in beta, designed primarily for Treo and Blackberry) that not only provides good and integrated Local search but lets you define your own mobile searches using just about any search site (if you know a little about HTML).

http://www.zypd.com

It gives you a preview of the results and lets you click through for the full page for all the additional detailed info.

[A. Davis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

MSN Mobile Search (works on Palm's just fine): http://mobile.msn.com/pocketpc/

Or you can just view the links from my website (http://palm.nccomp.com/MobilePortalSites.html). I have a site dedicated to mobile/smartphone/treo-type friendly sites. Its available for all and gets updated quite frequently for both new URLs and removal of dead links. You can view the site at: http://palm.nccomp.com

[E LeBreton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

It ain't a search engine but Bloglines' mobile RRS reader is the bomb.

[fruggeri @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

For tech product search, there's also CNET Mobile: http://m.cnet.com/ (promo at http://mobile.cnet.com/)

[Kesey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Get your Gmail on your Mobile here: http://www.nodrm.com/gmail

[Jon Wiley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Hoover's provides a searchable database of business information and has a mobile version:

http://mobile.hoovers.com/

[barb dybwad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Thanks for spreading love and light, Chris.

[day-us emc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

The AnandTech RealTime Price Engine (http://labs.anandtech.com) has a mobile search for computer hardware

http://labs.anandtech.com/wml.php

[Question Answerer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Google all the way, comment #1 is correct.

[tprzepiorka @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Yeah, Google is the best!! #10 and #1 are right :p

[NekoTsukimi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Google is all you need. It's almost perfect.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Wow, nokia mobile search has UK maps! It's amazing! Works on my Nokia 7610 too!

[Cristian Streng @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Well, if you want maps, download for free Mobile GMaps at http://www.mgmaps.com. It is a Java J2ME application that provides Google Maps and satellite imagery on mobile phones, allows to zoom in/out and of course to perform searches.

[Cristian Streng @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

The correct link is: http://www.mgmaps.com , Engadget did not create it correctly the first time.

[Soupy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Great article on mobile search: http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2005/08/03/google-rimm-sms-cx_ww_0803search.html
The mobile search providers haven't solidified on common offerings yet... so, I believe that the article is correct in its allusion to choosing the search that fits your needs. Personally, I am a 4INFO man!

[Allen Smith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

A new service for local searches is http://where.com Text a zip code and business name to WHERE - 94373 and get back free results

[Jim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Synfonic has mobile search as well. Get Gas, Local, Weather, Flights, Sports info through your phone's text messaging service. If you hate keying in the long query on your phone, just register and define your sms shortcuts at the site and use them next time when you use synfonic mobile search services. URL at http://www.synfonic.com

[dalton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I would love to use the mobile bloglines reader on my Treo, but the page never comes up. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Zaw @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Found a good review of the 4INFO WAP site (http://wap.4INFO.net), versus other services like Google and Yahoo!, here: http://www.blackberrycool.com/2005/08/10/00743/

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

sozhong is the first Chinese free sms search engine which can search movie times, bar/restaurant, sauna bath, KTV, post office, car renting, sports/entertainments, hospital etc. The accuracy of localization is down to 50 meters. And it is free service!
If you can read Chinese, visit www.sozhong.com.

[Pete Bernard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

As of today check out the new msn local search at mobile.msn.com (on your phone browser). Choose Beta Services and go.

[Cameron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Moble sites are also great for viewing on a Sony PSP with the browser update, Iam writing this now on my psp now. The psp can load and view full web pages, but moble pages are quicker. Plus, some full size pages dont look or lode right on the psp web browser.

[A. Davis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

http://mobileoptimized.com - its all you need

[James Kilm @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I have tried all the services listed in your article but none of them is quite as robust as www.411sms.com. I have been using them for over a year and I am amazed at how thorough and easy their directory service is to use. For instance with all of the other services, you have to type your city and state but with 411sms, I can send a search without the location if I am searching my local area (no setup/registration required). I am totally dependent on their movie search now because it allows me to get listings even for a future date (I can get the listings for friday today by texting "m four brothers 90025 friday" to 3109043113. My wife loves it too because she uses verizon which only has unlimited texting to other verizon phones thus she uses 411sms email portal by sending her searches to [e-mail]. I hope this helps, when I think of how much 411sms has save me (I don't even dare think). You can try their virtual simulator www.411sms.com/simulator.php.

[Graham Brown-Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

This is exactly what people have been waiting for with regards to search - a well-known, accessible and easy-to-use mobile search proxy.

[Alex Choo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

If you're looking for product reviews while at the mall, TicTap Mobile works well and fits nicely for small-screen devices.

Unlike most 'mobile pages' that are essentially sized-down web pages, TicTap mobile has no graphics and minimise bandwidth usage.

You can search for any products from Amazon.com. It works with any mobile device that supports XHTML mobile profile.

The url is http://www.tictap.com/xhtml

It's free, of course!