Comments on: 8 Mobile Search Services Mini-Reviewed

By: Joe Dolson

Joe Dolson — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:00:00 +0000

I tried to avoid making any really biased calls - but, on re-reading the 4Info section, I did possibly give the impression that I didn’t care for them.

Actually, I found their services to be quite handy: the single query interface is great.

I think you’ve hit the crux of the matter in saying “if I’m using a mobile search engine, I have a specific need and would want a limited scope”. I suspect this is a factor which needs to be considered: people using mobile devices have very specific needs.

I certainly agree with the desirability of limited scope, but I think it’s also beneficial to go to a single location to access these various micro-searches: on Ask.com and AOL, this is easily done, because they provide very immediate access to the various scopes.

By: Christen O'Brien

Christen O'Brien — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:45:00 +0000

You make some good points but I gotta say — if I’m using a mobile search engine, I have a specific need and would want a limited scope — especially on a mobile phone with a 3-inch screen. If I was doing general research, sure, I’d want a lot more. But that’s not the purpose of 4info. FYI –They are going to be one of the companies at the next Under the Radar: Mobility — more info here -http://undertheradarblog.com/under-the-radar-mobility-conference/

By: Joe Dolson

Joe Dolson — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:51:00 +0000

Must have - it’s working fine now!

And, for what it’s worth, I like the way it works better than Google’s compression algorithm: you’ve streamlined things without adding the curious extra navigation structure which Google’s XHTML search imposes.

Thanks for your comment!

By: Kevin Perkins, CEO Greenlight Wireless

Kevin Perkins, CEO Greenlight Wireless — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:42:00 +0000

Great review. I think you caught us during a brief maintenance window.

Try it again!

Kevin

By: David Dalka

David Dalka — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:32:00 +0000

Nice post.

I will be speaking at eComXpo on October 24th, viewing it is free, please sign up via the link on my blog.

By: Joe Dolson

Joe Dolson — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:59:00 +0000

I think your gut instinct is right - in both ways.

Google has all the resources; but sometimes they organize their products like engineers (no surprises there, I guess.)

They could really stand to bring in some usability consultants: they won the first stage with their simple search, but are losing their hold on that particular advantage with the complexity of their newer offerings.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:38:00 +0000

Nice review, Joe. Thanks.

Good to see all of these described all in one place. I expect that we will see an incredibly rapid evolution of services from these companies in the future.

My gut instinct is that Google will broaden what they offer even more - I’m not sure it will result in a better search, though.