Google says its search engine will now deliver localized information automatically to users of GPS-equipped Windows Mobile devices. The "Mobile Search with My Location" feature uses both cell-tower ID information and a device's GPS receiver to determine location, then serves up customized search...
results, says Google.
The capability, announced yesterday on a company blog, requires the Google Gears browser extension announced earlier this year. Once the extension has been installed (below), location information is automatically available whenever Internet Explorer is used to visit the Google website -- provided, of course, that a device has GPS hardware.
The Mobile Search with My Location feature requires installing Google Gears (Click either to enlarge)
Like similar functionality for Google Maps that was announced last year, Mobile Search with My Location uses the Geolocation API (applications programming interface) found in "Gears," Google's free software download aimed at allowing Web-based applications to interact with user desktops (and handtops) in a more "natural" way, by Google's description. Unique to the Mobile Search implementation, however, is the ability to derive location information from GPS hardware, or by sniffing cell-tower IDs. The latter a method said to save battery power, and may be more effective if a user is indoors, the company adds.
Google Search displaying a Windows Mobile device's current location
Once a user's location is determined, it is shown on the Google home page alongside a blue dot, as shown above. Queries such as "sushi" will return listings of localized businesses, while "weather" will return localized weather info. To override a device's actual location, enter search strings such as "weather Miami," explains Google.
The Mobile Search with My Location feature is apparently planned for multiple devices and operating systems, but is currently supported only on Windows Mobile. Even with this operating system, not all devices are compatible, warns Google. Some, for example, support location detection via GPS, but not via cell-tower ID, or vice versa.
Google created this video to promote its new Mobile Search with My Location feature (click to play) Source: Google
Further information
To view Google's list of Windows Mobile devices that do or do not support the new Mobile Search with My Location feature, see the company's website, here. To install Google Gears, simply point a mobile version of Internet Explorer at Google's home page, as pictured earlier in this story.
