Google Mobile Search Technology the Clear Winner in Japan
At Google’s (GOOG) offices in Tokyo, they talk about “John’s magic.” That refers to the Internet search giant’s dealmaking frenzy in Japan since John Lagerling joined the company more than a year ago as manager for strategic partner development. To the astonishment of many insiders, the trim, blond 31-year-old Swede has finessed tieups with Japan’s two biggest wireless carriers, giving Google’s search technology top billing on the tiny screens of as many as 82 million mobile subscribers.
Even Yahoo Japan, which boasts the country’s most popular Web portal, lags far behind. Fewer than 18 million mobile subscribers whose service is with wireless operator and Yahoo Japan owner Softbank own handsets that go directly to Yahoo’s search page.
Last month’s deal with NTT DoCoMo (DCM) adds to Google’s edge in the fast-growing Net search and advertising business in one of the world’s most sophisticated wireless markets. Now, the first thing DoCoMo mobile subscribers see when they go online from their handsets is the carrier’s site featuring a search box and the phrase “enhanced by Google.” Ditto for KDDI users. That means someone in Tokyo’s Shibuya shopping district who wants to find a store selling vinyl records no longer has to type in Google on a numerical keypad to gain access to the company’s search engine.
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