Google Boosts Windows Mobile App

Google said Thursday it has improved its mobile applications for rival Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system.

The company boosted its Google Mobile App, and one of the most notable improvements is the inclusion of the My Location feature. This utilizes cell phone tower information to determine where the user is in order to deliver location-relevant search results without the user having to specify their location.

"To protect your privacy, location is encrypted when sent to the server, and only your most recent location is stored so that successive searches can use the same location," Google wrote on its mobile blog. "You can disable My Location at any time in the 'Advanced Options' screen."

The company also added Google Suggest to the app, and this offers suggestions for search queries. Additionally, Windows Mobile users with Google Maps installed can now have their search queries better integrated with the mapping program.

With Android, Google technically competes with Windows Mobile but the search giant is trying to get its services and apps on as many platforms as possible. Google generally benefits any time a mobile user goes online because it subjects these users to its lucrative advertising business. The search giant will even give rival platforms like the iPhone new features before Android gets them.

The improved Windows Mobile app comes as Microsoft is preparing for an onslaught of new devices after the 6.5 software launches in October. A Microsoft executive said the company expects up to 30 new Windows Mobile 6.5 devices to hit the market before the end of the year from the likes of HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson.

Most companies are just starting the hard work of mobilizing workforces by bringing the software they use to smartphones. InformationWeek analyzed this issue in an independent report, and it can be downloaded here (registration required).