Chinese Mobile Users Get Google Search

Mobile telecommunications firm, China Mobile will now offer Google search on mobile phones, for all its users throughout China.

Google will allow the Chinese firm to enable mobile search on China Mobile’s Monternet WAP portal, so users may access content such as sports and entertainment news, ringtones, games, images, videos and novels. Users will also be able to access the service via a search box or search link on Monternet’s homepage, or through a dedicated mobile search homepage on Monternet. The first phase of the service has been partially tested in December, 2006 but will be officially launched soon.

Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile, said, “We are delighted to be providing China Mobile users with mobile and internet search services via our cooperation with Google. 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.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

“China Mobile will unite the industry chain, rapidly enhancing the whole industry’s value. Our cooperation will not only satisfy our users’ diverse communication needs but also build a new mobile world for Chinese users to communicate freely and live comfortably. As the leader of global internet search services, Google has a strong innovative capability. China Mobile and Google are working hand-in-hand and combining our strengths to improve the development of wireless, value-added services in China.”

Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Google, said that Google is currently focusing on an enhanced mobile experience for Chinese users and this initiative is a pathway to that goal.