Answers.com Tests Mobile Reference

Answers.com has ported its referenced-based search engine to mobile devices. A beta of the service is formatted to fit consolidated screen space and is available for a variety of handhelds including Treo, BlackBerry, as well as Windows CE and other browser-based telephones.

"Were taking our goal of supplying 'Answers at Your Fingertips' pretty literally," explained Bob Rosenschein, Founder and CEO of GuruNet.

"The rapidly increasing use of mobile phones has made the accessibility of reliable reference on the go a natural extension for us. If you communicate on the go and get your e-mail on the go, why not get instant facts on the go?"

Answers.com is not alone in its attempt to extend the company's search assets to mobile users. Google has also offers its services on the go using SMS text messages.

An initial version of Google SMS provides the names, addresses and the phone numbers of local businesses and residences; a dictionary lookup, and price comparisons between local retail stores.

The beta version of Answer.com mobile can be found at the product's Web site.