4th August - Mobile media company 3 UK is to offer Google Search and Google Maps on the Planet 3 mobile portal from today.

Under the agreement with Google, Google™ search will be integrated into the Planet 3 Internet offering. The Google Maps™ application will be offered as a download via the 3 portal.

The deal will see Google join Yahoo! as a search provider on Planet 3, giving 3’s users an unprecedented choice of integrated brand-name search providers. Google comes onto the 3 UK portal as an X-Series partner having been announced as a launch member of the X-Series global programme in November last year, and after launching in several other 3 markets.

When a user selects Google as their search provider, their preference is recorded and the next time they use the Planet 3 Internet service they will automatically be directed to Google search. The Google Maps application will be available to compatible handsets as a download accessible through the Planet 3 Services grid, as well as being pre-installed on a majority of new handsets that are able to run the application.

John Penberthy-Smith, Marketing Director, 3 UK, said: “We are delighted to be able to give our customers a richer mobile internet experience through adding these innovative Google products to our service today. Our objective is to make sure that our customers have an experience which gets closer and closer to the one you would expect when using your home PC, but on your mobile device, wherever you are. We’re not about forcing people to use a particular service or brand – we aim to let you choose which one you prefer.”