A few days ago Google announced the launch of a new search service for mobile devices. The new service has been created in order to make mobile search faster and the result more relevant.

Google states that with the new search service mobile users will be able to get results that will be extremely close to what they are searching for. Thus the search engine “looks through” traditional Internet, mobile Internet, news articles, local news and images and provides the most relevant results. For instance, if you type “Sunflower” the system will give out both links to web-pages and images of the plant.

The new mobile service by Google also has optimized local search function. Owing to the saving of previous search results of the user, the new service provides relevant results of local search in forthcoming searches – and there is no need to fill in your location once again. As long as the user specifies certain coordinates searching for, for instance, weather forecast of restaurants, the system will give out information relevant to this very location.

Mobile software developer Bango has signed agreement with the publishing house Macmillan Publishing to create a “mobile library.” The partners have launched a service under the name “The Global Reader” which will give access to books, articles, newspapers and other print content to the users of mobile Internet.

Bango technology works so that any user of any mobile network in any location in the world can browse content and buy it (paying from his/her mobile account, credit card or via PayPal).

Macmillan in collaboration with Bango’s partner, Fli Digital has developed a content-management system for WAP and integrated it into Bango’s identification and payment systems. Identification means that a user can collect a library of paid and free books. The service also features “favorites” function, which enable users to mark files to read them later.

Adam Kerr, VP of Sales at Bango Inc. said:

“Only Bango has the platform to provide detailed insights into mobile users on a global scale. By using Bango’s technology, the Global Reader will enable millions of book fans with a mobile phone to discover, connect and download their favorite books via the mobile web.”

Better than Senior Concierge Service? Yes! Mobile Transport & Question-Answer Services

It is not another article from the series “about the harm caused by mobile phones.” A mobile device, undoubtedly, is a useful and good thing. Especially the modern ones with the help of which you can not only call and send text messages, but listen to the music, watch images and video, learn the latest news. All of these can be ordered and received on your phone fast and easy. And unfortunately not always safe!

All the text, audio and video information that can be downloaded to a phone is called “mobile content.” There are a great number of ways to get money from users by the means of mobile content. All the online magazines are full of advertisements like send SMS with a code on some number and get ringtones/images/video-clips. The price of the service was shown in the bottom and written in a small font.

The ways of deceiving users are really multiple. For instance, you ca be offered to download an image or ringtone at a good price “forgetting” to warn that you automatically subscribe to paid newsletter. If you try to complain you will be explained that the payments taken from your account are additional charges, percents or whatever. There are cases when the ordered content wasn’t even received by the user (the service refers to the wrong number of the wrong secret code etc.)

The scheme is very simple: the frauds only have to persuade users to send SMS on the paid number, and then the money will be taken from them. Not the sum the user expects, but the sum the mobile pirates will want to withdraw.

Getting involved with untrustworthy content you can lose both money and health. Of course, not your health, but the health of your phone. Alongside a doubtful media-file your phone can download harmful software. It is no wonder. Phones are getting more and more close to PCs in their abilities, and the development of mobile viruses doesn’t stand still.

“Undoubtedly mobile viruses are the most steadily developing type of harmful software and moreover they have great potential for further development” - state Kaspersky Lab researchers. Moreover, the way PC viruses have covered in 20 years was made by mobile ones in only 3 years. It is especially true for smartphones – there appear at least 10 new Trojans each week. It is assumed that in the near future, mobile anti-virus software will be as obligatory as PC-based one.

Mobile viruses may spread via WAP-content, MMS and through average content as well. Games are especially dangerous in this very respect. A peculiar story happened three years ago when the game Mosquito 2.0 was released.

Shortly after that there have emerged messages that the game, being installed started to send SMS on unknown numbers. The actions that had been considered to be the result of a virus turned out to be anti-pirate know-how of the developers: SMS was sent on British-registered number in order to trace the legality of the spread of the game.

Nowadays, mobile viruses act according to the similar scheme – taking control over a phone and getting money from the account of the owner. All that can be recommended – be careful in downloading content. And if you are a lucky owner of a smrtphone, you’d better install regularly updated anti-virus software.

Who Esle Wants the Latest Mobile service by 3 and AT&T?

Music video channel by 3

The British mobile operator 3 has started the introduction of the new mobile service - a music video service for $1 per day. The new music video tele-channel will be added to other Planet 3 channels. It features 8 4-hour channels of different genres (it means that 8 programs 4 hours each constantly repeat). It is obvious that the service is a kind of reaction on the emergence of the similar services in Britain (MusicStation by Vodafone and dual-downloads services).

It seems that there are no monthly fees for the services, but if you use in daily it makes $30 a month.

The mobile operator AT&T has announced the release of a free inquiry service.

The users will be able to call the free number 1-800-YellowPages from any stationary of mobile phone in the US and get free access to the companies list. The service also enables advertisers to apply to the local customers.

Calling 1-800-YellowPages (1-800-935-5697) a user has to listen to audio-advertisement before getting the required info. After the add is listened to, the user will be connected to one of the companies he is interested in absolutely free.

David Huntley, senior vice president-Diversified Businesses, AT&T, said:

“Consumers are looking for directory assistance when they don’t have a phone book handy or can’t jump online. In addition to our premier caller-paid Directory Assistance service, AT&T 1-800-YellowPages now offers our consumers audio YellowPages, powered by Nuance’s speech technology. Nuance has been a critical player throughout the development of our new state-of-the-art advertiser supported Directory Assistance service.”

This year AT&T has already launched the service in a number of states. In the meantime it will be launched nationwide.

New Mobile Services: Nokia Internet Radio and payWave by Visa