Google Mobile Search Goes Local

Google has updated its mobile capabilites to include local search functions, which find nearby businesses using a name and zip code. Browser-enabled cell phone users can now pull up Yellow Pages data on the run, and even retrieve driving directions by sending an SMS text message to Google using the code "46645."

Google Local went live in February after being part a of the company's Google Labs development sandbox. The service currently only works in the United States and Canada, but Google plans to expand its reach in due time. Google has offered mobile Web searches since 2001, with SMS support being added late last year.