Google Releases App For S60

Google wants to make it easier for Symbian users to access its Web services on the go, and the search giant has launched a mobile application for S60 devices.

The app, which can run on devices like the Nokia N96, gives users quick access to Google's search, Gmail, Google Maps, and other Web services. The search feature has been specifically tailored for the mobile screen, Google said.

"We have adopted a dual approach to help make query formulation quick and efficient," Google wrote on its mobile blog. "First, your search history is readily available so that it's easy to repeat queries. Second, we offer query suggestions based on what has been entered so far to get you to your results as quickly as possible."

Additionally, the search feature has built-in location integration with the My Location feature to provide relevant results. For example, if a user searches for a coffee shop with My Location on, the results will skew toward coffee stores that are near the user. The Google Mobile For S60 app can be downloaded directly to the phone by visiting Google's mobile home page.

As more customers use their mobile phones to access the Web, the mobile space is becoming increasingly important for Google. CEO Eric Schmidt has even said he expects revenue from mobile advertising to eventually exceed that from the normal Web. To capitalize on this, the search company has launched the Android operating system on devices like the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic, and upcoming phones from a variety of manufacturers.

But Google isn't focusing all of its mobile ambitions on the Android operating system, as it has released multiple apps on competing platforms. The company can still generate revenue from searches that originate from rival platforms like the iPhone, BlackBerry, S60, or Windows Mobile.

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