Earlier this year that Google's CEO noted that he thought the mobile phone will become Google's number one client in terms of search volume in the near future. Now the search giant has made its commitment to mobile phones in writing, in the form of a statement in its annual report filed with the SEC.
The company is planning on increasing its capital expenditures during 2006, including more acquisitions. Many insiders think the increased acquisitions will focus on the mobile industry, a sector Google describes in the report as a, “fundamental development platform.”
Over the past several months Google has made a series of mobile announcements, including:
I can see phones taking up market share in developing nations, the places Google doesn't really have a big volume in. These are areas where PCs are far from common and internet access on them a luxury. But then again, most people in these areas have pretty basic phones, so it still might take a few years.
I think Google's CEO is a bit optimistic that the phone is going to eclipse the PC in search query market share *soon*. I can see that way down the road, but we can't even get a majority of Americans to figure out SMS. No way are they going to figure out mobile web browsing.