Verizon close to mobile search deal with Google: report

22 August 2008

Mumbai: US mobile service provider Verizon Communications Inc is reported to be close to a deal with Google Inc that would help the mobile phone service provider build the internet search giant's Android search interface into its products, a Wall Street Journal report said.

The deal, still under discussion, could make Google the default search mechanism for Verizon devices, the No 2 service provider in the US.

Google will be sharing revenue from the service, the report citing people familiar with the matter said.

Google is reported to have sought a partnership beyond the revenue-sharing terms and is still negotiating issues like Google getting to keep information from users' searches, the report said.

The deal with Google would help improve the performance of Verizon devices by simplifying the confusing set of search options now available for cell phone users. It will also offer Verizon customers a one-stop shop for different services such as ringtones, restaurants and Web pages.

Google rival Yahoo already has mobile phone software deals with AT&T and several mobile operators.