|
Mountain View, California-based Internet search leader Google launched an improved suite of mobile Web  applications for users of Apple's iPhone at the MacWorld conference Monday in San Francisco. The improvements to Google's mobile applications for the iPhone include a faster and more streamlined interface, and features not yet available in the search giant's desktop applications, such as an auto-complete address feature in its GMail email program, Google announced in a press release Monday. A demonstration of the new features and improvements given on Monday, the first day of the MacWorld conference, comes on the heels of news that holiday Web usage among iPhone owners surged at Google, according to information obtained from Google by the New York Times. Numerous Improvements for iPhone Apple iPhone owners can use the new features by pointing their built-in Safari browser to Google, which will automatically detect their iPhone using a new browser detection feature and bring them to a streamlined tabbed interface offering integrated access to GMail, which now automatically checks for new email, a calendar application including a new month at a glance view, Google's Reader Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed application, Google Docs application suite, Picasa's image service, and the ability to use Google's iGoogle applications. "The applications look and feel slicker, and they are easier to activate, navigate and use via a touch-screen," Google said in the news release. "Switching between applications is effortless, as users only need to sign in once to access their GMail, Calendar, Reader, Docs, and Picasa accounts," Google added. Future Updates Planned iPhone users who have customized their Google desktop using iGoogle will now find it available on their  phone, including any custom weather, stock or news feeds which they have previously set up. Google has tried to bring a desktop-like experience to iPhone users, in a "desktop-like Google web application experience in terms of ease-of-use, speed, and feature richness but optimized for the iPhone," according to Google, which also plans to allow iPhone users worldwide to take advantage of the new features in upcoming international versions of the mobile applications. Google also plans to bring the features it announced Monday for the iPhone to other high-end mobile devices, which are "fulfilling the promise of the mobile web," Google said. Holiday Gift iPhones Cause Surge in Google Traffic For several days during the holidays Google saw usage from iPhone owners increase to the top spot in mobile traffic, ahead of any other type of mobile device, according to information shared with the Times, which is seen as surprising considering that the iPhone accounts for about two percent of so-called smartphones globally, while phones powered by Nokia-supported Symbian tally a full 63 percent, followed by devices operating under Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform at 11 percent and BlackBerry systems with 10 percent, according to usage figures from market research firm IDC. While the holiday period that saw the iPhone on top was short lived, it may be a sign of future traffic at Google, as the iPhone is launched in more countries worldwide. Internet portal Yahoo and online advertising firm AdMob also saw a drastic increase in iPhone usage over the holiday season, according to the Time article. Google Launches New Features for Surging iPhone at MacWorld Google appears to sees mobile devices like the iPhone ushering in a new level of interaction with its mobile applications, a partnership it seems ready to continue improving in the future. "Consumers are going to demand Internet browsers" said Google vice president Vic Gundotra in charge of overseeing mobile products in the Times article. "The reason no one considered this seriously is that the Web layer on mobile devices was terrible," Gundotra added. Gundotra feels that valuable information can come from the type of high iPhone usage figures seen over the holidays. "It's about usage, not just units. The data proves that people are using the browser on the iPhone," Gundotra said in a recent interview with CNET - News.com. The improvements Google launched for the iPhone Monday may offer a glimpse of forthcoming offerings for Google's Android mobile operating system platform, which shares much of the same underlying structure as the iPhone's Safari browser. Related Links:
|
12:24 am on Jan. 15, 2008 (utc 0)