Google Mobile app opens up in Windows

On Wednesday, Google released a version of Google Mobile App for Windows Mobile phones, meaning Windows Mobile owners tired of opening their browsers every time they want to start a Google search can put that habit to rest.

On Microsoft's mobile platform, the free, native application installs a home screen plug-in from which you can launch a handful of Google's mobile services. About two-thirds of Google Mobile App is dedicated to its search field. The other portion is populated with thumbnail icons that open Gmail, Picasa Web albums, Google Docs, and so on, in the default browser, except the Google Maps icon, which will open or install Google's downloadable map and directions application on the phone.

While Google Mobile App for Windows Mobile surfaces user's history and search suggestions just like the BlackBerry and iPhone versions, the Windows Mobile version is the first not to be a full-screen application. Even when Google Mobile App for Windows Mobile opens from the program menu, it's a strip floating at the top of the screen.

Treating the mobile app as a horizontal swatch is actually an asset, thanks to some time-saving tweaks Google added to this version – such as mapping the app to a hot key so users can start a search without having to first open an app from the program list, and searching within a specific domain. Google Mobile App will work on Windows Mobile smartphones and pocket PCs in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and US.

Original article: Google's Mobile App comes to Windows phones from CNET News.com