China Mobile Uses Google Search

Google is providing search technology to China Mobile, the country's largest wireless provider.

Google technology is being tested on China Mobile's handset-accessible portal, called Monternet, to search a variety of content, including sports, entertainment, news, ring tones, games, images and video. Cellular-phone subscribers will eventually be able to access the service via a search box, or through a link on Monternet's homepage.

The first-phase of the service is currently being tested. The trial, which started in December 2006, is scheduled to be launched broadly in the early part of this year. "Mobile search will help users access the information they need more easily and quickly. This is an important move for China Mobile's transformation into a mobile information expert," Wang Jianzhou, chairman of the wireless provider, said in a statement.

Established in 2000, China Mobile has nearly 300 million subscribers.