Googles motto of mobile first has paid off in its mobile search efforts.
It has a market share of 97% for mobile searches and has solved a lot of problems for mobile searchers with their Grand Prix project in 2008. Now the Internet giant is turning its attention to solving other mobile-based problems like translating phone calls and recognizing photos.
Their formula is similar to what made them search engine giants almost a decade ago. They take common problems that people have been trying to solve with technology, use massive amounts of data and then create a solution that they hope will be profitable in the future. So far the results have been promising. Googles growth in the mobile sector is mirroring their quick growth in search.
Voice Search. One of the most popular additions is voice search, which allows consumers to search for websites with spoken words. Users can use spoken keywords just like they would with a typed search. Google has trained the system to recognize many different voice types so searchers from Boston to California to the Deep South can use the search functions, no matter what their linguistic differences. Another project, Goggles, helps users conduct searches with images. Just snap a picture of a wine label or landmark and Goggles will find related search engine results.
Translation. People can also take a photo of a foreign language sign or menu and have it translated with their phone. And the foreign language capabilities dont end there. One of the Google mobile apps allows users to speak in English and hear the foreign language translation. The company is working on making two-way conversations translatable that may open up a new world for international communications.
Google notes that mobile search will never take over desktop search but by developing mobile apps that solve problems, it can stay ahead of others in the mobile world.