Nokia integrates Google into its search application

Nokia will integrate Google's search engine into its own search application on four of its latest phones unveiled at the Mobile World Congress, the companies said on Tuesday.

Google will appear on the N96, N78, 6210 Navigator, and the 6220 classic in select markets at first. Eventually, the option will be extended to other handsets in more than 100 countries, Nokia said.

Nokia has collaborated with Google before, although Google is increasingly encroaching on its partner’s turf.

In Barcelona this week, several chip manufacturers are displaying prototypes of mobile phones using Google's Android software stack. If other phone manufacturers embrace Android, it could eventually pose a challenge to Nokia's dominating share of the mobile market.

Nokia first integrated Google's search engine on its Internet tablet PCs. The company also enabled support for Google's YouTube video-sharing Web site on its popular N95 phone.

The Google search option will supplement Nokia's Search software, which is free to download and compatible with a range of the company's handsets. That search function can be used to find content on the phone as well as on the Internet.