Google enjoys mobile search growth

Google has seen a significant rise in searches from mobile devices – up 30% quarter on quarter.

Speaking at this morning’s Westminster eForum, Ian Carrington, Google’s European mobile advertising sales director, said mobile search is growing around eight to nine times faster than desktop search did.

Carrington said the mobile web is “equally as important as apps” in the mobile ecosystem, which is why Google is investing heavily in the mobile web experience.

He also talked of the rise and success of m-commerce, which has seen companies such as Google and eBay generate billions in revenue from purchases made via mobile devices.

Last year, Amazon sold $1 billion worth of goods via mobile, while eBay made $2 billion from mobile sales.

“The future of mobile-commerce is already here, and it is going to grow with NFC.”

Panellists at this morning’s seminar were enthusiastic about NFC (near-field communication) – with RIM’s managing director, UK, Stephen Bates seeing a future where mobile handsets are used as an oyster card, an event ticket, a debit card for small purchases and building access.

Bates confirmed that RIM will be adding NFC technology to “virtually all of our devices” in the future.

Ian Carrington will be speaking at MediaTel Group’s Come on Mobile… Stand Up and Deliver! event on 18th March. For more information and to book your discounted ticket, click here.