Yahoo! and Virgin sign a mobile search deal

Yahoo! has signed a new deal to offer Virgin Mobile’s 4.4 million customers mobile search through its enhanced portal, in a move to increase its mobile presence in the UK.

Virgin Mobile customers will now have access to Yahoo!’s oneSearch internet search service, news, music, video and games on the new Virgin Media portal.

Yahoo! and Virgin are planning to deliver sponsored search results and listings within the new mobile portal next year.

Following similar deals with Orange, O2, 3 and T-Mobile, Yahoo!’s deal with Virgin Media takes its market share of the UK mobile search audience to 80%.

Yahoo!’s Mitch Lazar said: “A great mobile search service is a crucial part of this and by integrating Yahoo! oneSearch into the portal, we are ensuring our customers have all the information they need at their fingertips.

“Working closely with all our 70 mobile operator partner, Yahoo! oneSearch is a starting point for mobile customers,” he added.

Graeme Oxby, managing director of Virgin Mobile said: “Our new Virgin Media mobile portal brings the web to consumers’ pockets.”

Yahoo!: 020 7808 4200 www.yahoo.co.uk Virgin Media: www.virginmedia.com