Who needs Android? Windows Mobile gets the rest of Google's apps

Just about one year ago, Google finalized its plug-in for Windows Mobile that brought a Google search field to the WM home screen. Now, the app has expanded to include Maps, Gmail, News, and more in the same small window.

The resulting plug-in is actually more like a Google browser toolbar than anything else, due to the Windows Mobile interface, but the functionality is no less salient.

From the "Today" screen, Google applications such as Maps can be launched, provided they are installed on the user's device. Web-based services like Mail, Calendar, and Docs can be given their own shortcuts directly to the user's domain.

Google claimed yesterday in its blog that searches with the App were 50% faster than navigating to m.google.com.

Interested users can send the updated plug-in to their phone directly from google.com/mobile/winmo.