America Online Inc. is testing a suite of mobile search services, the Internet giant said Wednesday.
The new offerings allow users with Web-enabled phones to search the Internet for information including local business listings and to compare prices of goods from online retailers. Israeli technology provider InfoGin Ltd. is powering the service, which formats traditional Web pages for wireless phones.
Internet search engines increasingly are looking to wireless users to expand their reach. Google Inc. launched its short message service-based search service last year, and Ask Jeeves provides a similar product. Last month, Yahoo! Inc. launched an SMS service to its package of wireless search offerings, which includes a WAP-based service.
Several smaller players are vying for the lead in the space as well. 4INFO Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based startup, offers a text message-based service but doesn’t operate an Internet search tool like its bigger brothers. Nearly all the SMS search offerings on the market are free aside from carrier messaging charges.
