China Mobile (CHL) and Google (GOOG) announced plans to provide mobile and Internet search services in China.
Together, they will provide Chinese Mobile users with mobile search products and services that will make it easier to find relevant content on users' cellular phones.
According to the agreement, Google will provide its search engine technology to China Mobile to enable mobile search on China Mobile's Monternet WAP portal, and China Mobile users will be able to easily search Monternet and its vast content, including sports and entertainment news, ringtones, games, images, videos and novels. Users will 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 service has been partially put into trial operation in December, 2006 and will be launched broadly in the early part of 2007.
Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile, said: "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."
