Google unveils new search app for mobile

Global search engine Google on Tuesday unveiled a new app that makes mobile users search for their daily needs.

"With more Indians using smartphones for online access, our new product Google House helps them search maps, photos, translate and use YouTube apps on mobile devices, Google India marketing director Sandeep Menon told reporters here.

According to a study by the US-based company, about 500 million Indians will access internet on computers/laptops, while another 490 million will do it on smartphones by 2017, as against 300 million on desktops and 150 million on smartphones in 2014.

"India is adding 6-7 million new mobile internet users every month, which is more than the five-million population of Norway in northern Europe. No wonder, India has overtaken the US in mobile penetration and is second only to China," Menon said at a product preview.

Observing that a smartphone revolution was on in India, thanks to the rapid use of mobile for a plethora of needs, Menon said handsets have become a multiple device, with access to voice, messages, maps, photos, news and information on anything through emails, Whatsapp, Facebook, Viber and other apps.

"For instance, Google Translate app helps users overcome the language barrier by translating text matter like street signs or menu lists by opening the app in your mobile phone and pointing its camera at the text in Hindi and other Indian languages," Menon said.

Similarly, the Google Photos app automatically backs up photos and videos across all mobile devices.

"A whopping 1.8 billion photos are uploaded every day the world over, including 93 million selfies and more photos are being added every two minutes," Menon noted.

Likewise, Google Now updates brings information on when and where a user want it.