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Search engine for your Nokia smart mobile - but no Google?

Nokia has announced a downloadable Web search application for users of the Series 60 smartphones. It presents a single UI for include Eniro, Fonecta, Medio Systems, Yahoo!, Yell.com, as well as digital map solution provider AtlasCT and digital map data provider NAVTEQ. But no Google.

The software can be seen demonstrated online at http://www.nokia.com/mobilesearch/ and as a trial, will be provided together with the Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681 and Nokia 6630 smartphones in the UK, Finland, and Sweden.

But there's a free download and you can make up your own mind.

The move was cautiously welcomed by Symbian watcher Steve Litchfield. He's been evangelising a Palm-inspired view of a wireless-centric world, and sees Nokia's move as a step in this direction:

"The idea presumably is that the Internet (and your own chosen servers/RSS feeds/portals/whatever) becomes the centre of your mobile computing experience. For example, why carry around static reference databases when you can look things up on the master system online? Why struggle to type/scribble a long email when you can make a call or leave a voice mail in a fraction of the time? Why copy over documents and then convert/work on them and then send them back (risking damage) when you can edit the originals directly? Why mess around with map databases on expansion card when you can access bang-up-to-date maps, route planning and traffic information online? Why keep your PIM information totally to yourself when you could be working with PIM data online, with selected colleagues and family given access to the bits they need?

The full "future story" from All About Symbian