Google’s Beta of SMS Search Queries

Search Engine leader Google Inc. has launcheda beta test of search results via the short message service (SMS) platform.

“We want to bring information to people in any way that we can,” said Georges Harik, director of Googlettes (new platforms and offerings) at Google. “This way you can just be walking around or be in a coffee shop or be waiting for a train and use it from anywhere. A lot of local information is really useful.”

“Right now we’re sort of gathering feedback and seeing how people use it,” said Harik. “To the extent that ads will be useful to consumers, we’ll be likely to deliver them. If we don’t think they’d be useful, then we won’t.”

“I think we’re going to evaluate what we get out of the tests here,” said Harik. “One of the things important to note is that Local was pioneered in the U.S. ahead of other places. We eventually intend to provide all of the services everywhere.” Google already offers Web search for phones and handhelds that have WAP browsers, through its Google Wireless service. That service “translates” HTML pages into wireless markup language (WML) so wireless users can view ordinary Web sites more easily.

The service works on U.S. carriers, including AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint PCS. On the other hand,  Google rival Yahoo recently began paying more attention to its mobile initiatives. The company started allowing users to post photos to Flickr via their camera phones, and it ran a contest to encourage such use.