The InformationWeek -- Blogs
Google

Topics:   Google

  • Email this page E-mail this page
  • Print this page Print this page
  • Bookmark and Share
  • icon

Google Launches Location-Aware Search For Windows Mobile


Posted by Eric Zeman, Sep 11, 2008 03:55 PM

Google has made location-aware search a reality for users of Windows Mobile devices. Now, when you pull out your WinMo smartphone to perform a search, Google will automatically deliver results relevant to your location.

Google had talked about location-aware search with the use of its Gears Geolocation API a couple of weeks ago. The idea is that software determines your location information without requiring user input. This can allow you to perform searches faster, and get the results you need.

For example, if you want to search for "music", you'll no longer have to add the zip code or city name to your search to get local results. Search with My Location approximates your actual location using the same Cell ID technology used by Google maps for mobile. On a phone, this is key, because entering in text takes time. Reducing the amount of text entry means faster searches.

This is really cool stuff.

In order to quash any complaints about potential privacy issues, Google said, "We take your privacy seriously and have designed Search with My Location so that it doesn't associate your location with any personally identifiable information, even if you are logged in. We won’t send your location until you explicitly opt in, and you can always opt-out from the Gears Settings under the Tools menu."

Right now, this functionality is only available for the Windows Mobile platform because it can handle the necessary Gears software. Google will add Search with My Location to other platforms over time.

« Getting A Jump On The New Content Management Standard | Main | CTIA: BlackBerry Gets All Sorts Of Love From Google And TiVo »



Sign Up Now
For InformationWeek News Alerts




This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers.

Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service.

Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.




 
Sign Up For The Grok on Google Newsletter
Every Thursday, Tom Claburn and his fellow analysts offer all the news, insight, analysis, and strategic thinking you need to understand the company and complex phenomenon known as Google.

Sign up for our free, weekly newsletter today!

Newsletter Archives


  :: THE LATEST GOOGLE NEWS ::




  1. Actors, Messages and Low Lock Contention for Java
  2. Of Course The Transformers are Multicore with SMT technology
  3. Find John Fast!!


Join The InformationWeek Group On LinkedIn


                           


  1. Why I'm Dropping Bing For Google
  2. Nokia's N97 Gets Massive Firmware Update Promising Bug Fixes
  3. Video: Talking About Firefox 3.5, Apple's Snow Leopard, The Return Of Steve Jobs, & More
  4. Bing Is Worth A Fling
  5. So Long, And Thanks, Google Earth, For All The Fish


  1. Review: Apple's Speedy iPhone 3GS
  2. Tech Innovation USA: From Resilient Networks To Self-Scheduling Devices
  3. How Government's Driving Cloud Computing Ahead
  4. Government As Early Adopter
  5. InformationWeek Analytics: Data Loss Prevention
  6. Strategic Security: Web Single Sign-On

 

  Ars Technica
Boing Boing
Channel 9 Forums
CRN Blogs
Dr.Dobb's Portal: Blogs
Engadget
Gizmodo
GrokLaw
  Lifehacker
Schneier on Security
Slashdot
TechCrunch
Techdirt
Techmeme
Valleywag

  DECEMBER 2008
NOVEMBER 2008
OCTOBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
AUGUST 2008
JULY 2008
JUNE 2008
MAY 2008
  APRIL 2008
MARCH 2008
FEBRUARY 2008
JANUARY 2008
DECEMBER 2007
NOVEMBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007