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Our Bureau

Bangalore, Oct. 10 Google is now on your mobile. Shortcodes and search have mingled to allow the 200 million mobile subscribers in India access to Google’s search engine database of Web sites on the Internet.

The firm has announced the launch of Google SMS. This does not require a computer or an Internet-enabled (GPRS) phone — just a premium SMS sent from a mobile to a shortcode — 54664.

With this service, users can search for business listings, movie show times and any other information that is useful while on the move. By selecting a standard location, users can also obtain location-specific data. Relevant local data for mobile users in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai has been included. Search results are ranked by proximity to the specified location. The service also saves time by saving users’ location, so they don’t have to type their location every time they search.

A text message will carry the query, and the search results will arrive at the mobile’s inbox in the form of an SMS. This service is currently available on the Airtel, Aircel, BPL, BSNL and Reliance networks.

“There’s no denying the importance of text messaging in India, and the launch of Google SMS is a natural next step for our mobile strategy,” said Mr Vinay Goel, Head of Products, Google India, in a release issued by the company.

Another company, the Bangalore-based TeliBrahma Convergent Communications, also offers an SMS search product called Genie. This is an application downloaded from the firm’s Web site onto a mobile. It uses SMS, a non-premium one, to send information to TeliBrahma’s server, which then relays the information to the mobile.

Users can search for local information such as the nearest hospital’s number or even book a table at a restaurant while driving. The company has tied up with Yellow Pages providers for the information.

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