Alltel, JumpTap unveil dedicated search key

Alltel Corp. announced it is offering a phone with a dedicated search key, an offering powered by mobile search company JumpTap.
The dedicated key, which features a magnifying glass search icon, launches an Alltel-branded BREW client that enables subscribers to search for content, services and information, according to the companies’ announcement. The No. 5 carrier hopes the dedicated key will increase the uptake of mobile search and increase content purchases by helping subscribers find what they want quickly and easily.
“At Alltel, we are constantly striving to make the mobile experience simpler and more enjoyable,” said Wade McGill, senior VP of product management at Alltel. “It’s been proven that the easier it is for subscribers to find applications, the more likely it is that they will be adopted.”
The LG Electronics Co. Ltd. 8600 handset, selling through Alltel for $100, is the first to offer the functionality. The service will be added to additional handsets in the coming months, according to the carrier.
JumpTap’s search engine has been available on Alltel since September 2006. The move comes as numerous handset manufacturers, carriers and third-party aggregators are flocking to search engine powerhouses like Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. to bring their mobile search and other information services on deck.