The new Yahoo Go application was touted as part of a partnership between Yahoo and Motorola, although Yahoo also has deals in place with Nokia, Samsung, and BlackBerry developer Research In Motion.

Samsung already has launched a handset preloaded with Yahoo Search, and plans to increase the number of handsets that come with Yahoo inside. When Yahoo Go for Mobile 2.0, currently in beta, goes live in a few months, it is expected that both Samsung and Motorola will include the new technology in a range of mobile handsets.

Altogether, Yahoo Go consists of several applications: oneSearch, an Internet search feature; Local & Maps, a widget that offers access to local directory information and driving directions; News, Sports, Entertainment, Weather, and Finance widgets; a photo-sharing widget to keep users connected to their community; and an e-mail widget for sending or receiving Yahoo e-mail.

Battle Royale

The ramp-up of services and features for mobile phones is not surprising, many analysts have noted, because the mobile platform is the next big unclaimed territory for technology providers.

Google also has struck an alliance with Samsung in an effort to get its e-mail, search engine, and mapping software on more mobile phones. The phone provider, which will create a special line of products that have access to Google software, has already launched one device that has mobile versions of Google's search and Gmail applications.

Whether Yahoo and Google can be as ubiquitous on mobile devices as they are on desktops and laptops remains to be seen. Most likely, if they can create applications that are very simple to use, the companies have a good shot at drawing in new customers.

Search and Discover

"The key to making something appropriate for phones is streamlining, since the screens are so small," said Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman.

A misstep that has been made by many companies in the past is believing that an offering that is popular on PCs, such as games, will automatically translate to mobile devices.

"Some content just doesn't translate well, no matter how much investment is put into cross-platform applications," said Goodman. "For example, with games that require complex actions, they're just not going to appeal to mobile phone users."

However, cell phone and PDA users have become more comfortable with Web surfing in between phone calls, Goodman added. Increased consumer demand, plus better operating standards for developing applications, could make mobile search more compelling than ever before, he noted.