A quick round-up of some mobile search-related news before I skip off to a delegate dinner to meet panelists participating in tomorrow’s cutting-edge conference on recommendation technology. I’ll circle back with those highlights tomorrow night…
In the meantime, the blogsphere is full of news (and some well-deserved praise) for the updated Live Search for Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0. This newest version includes voice input (in beta and jointly developed by Microsoft and TellMe, the voice recognition company it acquired earlier this year.) The main attraction is the Live Search 411 service, which gives users toll-free access to directory assistance and allows them to find and connect to local businesses and other listings using their voice. Users can say, “Connect me,” to make the connection. Mobile phone users can request a link via text, to a map with directions. (The service is quite similar in this respect to Google’s own 411 service GOOG-411, so it’s clear Microsoft is out to do one better than its arch rival.)
Microsoft has also put more emphasis on mining GPS data on GPS-enabled phones to provide “location-aware” local search. A new version of Live Search designed for use with BlackBerry devices is in beta and available for download for free. (More information on all the updates at www.LiveSearchMobile.com and http://www.LiveSearch411.com, and in an upcoming podcast.)
Some interesting stats from white-label mobile search provider Fast Search & Transfer, drawing from its recent deployment with MTS, Russia’s largest mobile operator. A press release from FAST (and thanks Kate Smyth @ jd marketing for sending it to my attention) reports the “enhanced portal has resulted in a substantial boost in traffic and a 60 percent increase in queries (searches), leading to increased download of digital content in the first three months.” Of course, we don’t know the base numbers…
MTS says it will leverage FAST’s technology to build out this competitive edge. To this end, MTS will also be “offering an entirely unique collection of WAP sites with its own search relevance and ranking rules.” This approach will allow the operator to promote “specific Russian content for certain searches.” (Again, a sharp focus on local language content appears to be the ace that plays in favor of companies competing with Google and other branded search providers.) And a confirmation of the central role of search: the companies are effectively creating a platform for the search, storage and retrieval of all forms of digital content (and this includes user-gen content and blogs).
Not too much detail in the press release, but FAST has also enabled MTS to tap into the mobile advertising market with FAST’s AdMomentum offer and launch pay-per-click ads. Now those are some stats I’d like to see in the next press release. [Or maybe the next podcast –I was close to getting Mike Brady, FAST's Senior Director, Business Development (Mr. Mobile Search as far as I was concerned). Just had him pinned down when he moved on…]
October 18, 2007
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 18th, 2007 at 11:38 pm and is filed under Mobile Marketing, Mobile Search, Mobile Social Media.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
