When it comes to mobile search, could more be better? After hinting at the trend to metasearch and documenting NTT DoCoMo’s conscious decision to offer over a dozen mobile search services, I now see that Thailand’s AIS has chosen Mobile Content Networks (MCN) to provide search for its mobileLIFE WAP portal. However, the release fails to point out that AIS already has Google as its all-purpose search engine. MCN therefore serves the purpose of a vertical search engine. The company tells me it will deliver results across some 14 “channels of content” including music, games, ringtones and images. In addition, MCN will provide “customized search” for the operator’s Music Click service, enabling users to search and buy full-track music downloads. It’s not possible to conclude from this deal that operators’ interest in offering more than one search engine is indeed on the rise but it’s easy to imagine operators are beginning to see the merits in offering users a choice. But the real revelation is the position of MCN on the portal next to Google, a top-notch spot that speaks volumes about the search engine giant’s abilities to index and search mobile entertainment content.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007 at 6:36 pm and is filed under Mobile Search. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.