Google Mobile App now available on Windows Mobile

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | 10:00 AM

One of the most common questions we are asked on this blog is "When will this be available for my phone?". Well for all you Windows Mobile fans the answer is "now" for the Google Mobile App. Try it out by downloading it from http://m.google.com/search on your mobile phone.

Google Mobile App gives you faster searching on your Windows Mobile device, with easy access to your favorite Google applications from the Today screen. There's no need to wait for a browser to open to begin a search, and with search history available to reduce typing, you can get your search results with fewer clicks than before. For an even speedier experience, Pocket PC users can add the Google Mobile App to the start menu (Settings: Menus) or configure a hardware key (Settings: Buttons) to provide easy access from within any application on your phone.

How much faster is it? Well, our stopwatches show that Google Mobile App team members (who are mostly normal people, no superpowers were deployed during the timings) were able to get their search results for identical queries nearly 50% faster from Google Mobile App than from navigating to google.com in the mobile browser.

Check out more highlights of Google Mobile App on Windows Mobile in this video.



Google Mobile App is available for all devices running Windows Mobile in the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany. (Check your phone model here to see if your phone is running Windows Mobile.) It is also available for iPhone, iPod touch and BlackBerry devices.


Posted by Craig Wilkinson, Google Mobile App engineer

58 comments:

The Kosher Cruiser said...

It not available on all BlackBerries


*waits for the BB Storm release*






http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=97850&topic=14767

Forrest Neil Goodson said...

Hmm.... following the link from the text message as well as navigating to m.google.com just shows the app list just as always.

Unknown said...

Same with me, Forrest. I have tried using different mobile browsers, the text message link . . . I just get the same old list.

Unknown said...

many Thank's

Unknown said...

you actually have to go to m.google.com/search to get the cab

Shawn said...

Just click "search" and install the new version. Google should have been more clear that this was just an upgrade to the previous search.

Unknown said...

Oops. Now I see it. Yeah, google definitely should have been clearer.

jeep670 said...

hmm... where is the Google Reader button?

Anonymous said...

Does it only work with Internet Explorer. I hate IE for mobile and use Opera Mobile. It would be nice if Google Mobile didn't default to mobile IE.

Anonymous said...

Ah, figured it out. I didn't have Opera Mobile set as my default browser. Works great now.

Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Gadgeteer said...

For some reason this doesn't seem to work with the "Sliding Panels" screen from WM 6.1. The Windows Default works on my phone.

I am using a Verizon SMT 5800 with WM 6.1.

MJC said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Unknown said...

Wasn't this functionality available for Nokia (S60) phones in the past? It seems it was at some point but now I can't find it and install it anymore.

Does anyone know if that version was axed and why?

Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Unknown said...

Why don't you link correctly to
http://m.google.com so when you read this blog post from the mobile, can click on it?

J said...

Ugh. I thought this would add a neat 'iphone' like gmail app to the ever expanding windows mobile market.

NOPE.

All this amazing app does is open up internet explorer with all of the apps.

Two options: Install this app, or don't and just use "bookmarks".

wwejason said...

All of the icons are nothing but links to the mobile sites. I don't need a today plugin hogging up any resources at all just displaying shortcuts to websites and a search box that, guess what, just opens the web browser and also goes to the mobile site.
I got excited earlier today when I heard about the app being released. It only took a few seconds for that to wane after the install had completed.

Randy said...

How can I get the old search application back? This one takes up too much today screen real estate.

Chimpanzee said...

Any chance of a Google Reader app?

AK said...

Thanx a lot. This is what i was waiting for.

The Technology Hub

Aristarkhos said...

why is it country specific? I can understand if it was a maps-only app. but it isn't right?

~ A (India) :)

JiltedCitizen said...

Live Search is still better. Come on google you can do better.

Unknown said...

This doesn't work with 6.1's sliding panel setup, so its useless to me. I'm guessing when 6.5 comes out it won't work with that either.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I was just wondering why the windows mobile version doesn't include the 3 top features of the apple version:

Search with your voice so you don't have to type. New!

Search with My Location makes finding business, weather, and movie info easy. New!

Suggestions appear as you type to save you time.

I was so looking forward to this... but now I'm a bit dissapointed. These are just links to my browser. Am I missing something?

soydeedo said...

I agree with jorge - the app everyone is waiting for is a native Windows Mobile Gmail app. Even better would be adding Gmail to Google Sync, but I'll take either for now. Java's halfhearted support across the WinMo platform just doesn't cut it.

Unknown said...

Nice app... what about google documents app for blackberry/iphone/winMobile that IS NOT A BROWSER? It is awkward to use a browser (probably usage takes 10x longer than a local binary for the phone OS)... Browser works for everyone but is awkward for everyone... Still, I am glad there are google mobile docs at all. PS. I love gmail for blackberry. Excellent app. :-)

Unknown said...

PPS. Has the Google Mobile team considered multiplying the available resources by creating a semi-open-source set of projects? Different open source projects for every phone OS Google is supporting... then Windows Mobile developers in the community could contribute code to say a native gmail app.

it's all over! said...

This is extremely disappointing and a waste of time. It really doesn't add anything that wasn't already available.
What would be of great use, and other have already mentioned this, is a Gmail App for Windows Mobile.

morvin said...

thank...

Aristarkhos said...

How about putting up some info on the latest offline gmail service on the web browser for mobile phones?

Chaseman said...

Not that anyone at Google will see this, but just in case you are, wanted to tell you how SWEET this app is and thanks for building it. Can't tell you how often I check my igoogle, gmail, gcalendar, search, etc. from a browser. Your app saves me multiple "clicks" and the interface is VERY intuitive. I love that it sits on my Today screen. You guys are geniuses...

GodSide said...

Mine only links to the full size websites of everything...which is annoying. Anyone know how to change where it points to for each icon?

Dewa said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Blony said...

Even better would be adding Gmail to Google Sync, but I'll take either for now.

Peace. Meal. said...

Too bad if you don't live in one of those countries. Again. Sigh.

Dingo,
India (I mean it's not like there are a lot of people in my country or anything).

Aristarkhos said...

@blony: Yea. That would have been a good add.

@peace.meal: :)

Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

commission base said...

Have come across through your blog and i was really looking for this feature for my pocket pc as my browser opens very late the speed is less....

Using this feature Kindly tell me other features about this...
Jaideep Mukherji
Search Engine

Unknown said...

Any plans for a good WinMo client for Google Reader???

Sarfaraz Ahmed said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Donny Wijaya said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Donny Wijaya said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Tony said...

I think it is great, but it looks terrible on my iPaq 510 smartphone (176X220)

Donny Wijaya said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

A.V.Ebrahimi said...

Thank you very much for presenting Google Sync for Windows Mobile.
Now my PC, GMAIL, iPod and WinMobile are synced.

Abdolhosein Vakilzadeh Ebrahimi


AVEbrahimi

teamsjunkie said...

is google talk mobile available for Samsung Blackjack?

Badger51 said...

The application wouldn't load on my WM 6.1 samsung omnia?

Any ideas?

Unknown said...

I couldn't find the Google Talk app in this, am I missing something? Surely there's an official Google Talk app for Windows Mobile.... right?

Sam said...

I'm sorry to say - this is pretty sorry.
1 - following the link provided via SMS gets you to the same old app - why not a download page? How tough can that be.
2- Don't advertise "for Windows Mobile" when it's really "in your browser."
3 - I'd like to point out that I (for one) do not pick my cell phone based on the operating system. If you're not going to build a real WinMo app just say so, and spare us. I'd like the hour back I spent messing with this.

Gene McCalmont said...

Loaded and working well with Samsung BlackJack II and Windows Mobile 6.1 and runs as an individual application. Even the GPS function works well. However, it is a power hog and runs the battery down in only a couple of hours. To be useful, you will need a power cord attached for extended operation. I use the application when riding motorcycles to locate the position of my traveling companions, rather than as a turn by turn navigator. It's also useful when off the bike and in an unfamiliar location. While the app may not meet your particular expectation, it works well for me and provides a valuable asset.

Unknown said...

I know somebody asked this, but there's still no googlechat / Gtalk, right???

Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Unknown said...

Happy to have this added to my Today screen. The easy access to Search is a real time saver. Although I empathize with those who seek a native program which doesn't simply open a browser.

With the recent release of the YouTube app for WinMo, could the Google Search App please be updated to include a link, just as there is one for the native Maps app? Pretty please?

Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Unknown said...

there is nothing for java mobiles very sad

Unknown said...

Completely agree, all.

Why did Google even bother releasing this without the proper features?

It truly is pissy me offee.

No make a senses!

Doucheisness!

No more rectum left!

You are of the to be welcomes for the ENGRISH!

Sky Lyu said...

Google Mobile App for Windows Mobile will be open-source code?