From now on AIS users can access the Google search engine page, which is customised to be easily viewed on their phone screens. Google has allowed AIS subscribers to download its icon onto their phones, from which they can quickly access its page.

Somchai Lersuttiwong, AIS vice president for wireless service business, yesterday said 2 million AIS subscribers out of a total 19.5 million browse the Internet content site on their phones daily by using the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) high-speed data access network.

AIS charges Bt1 per minute for accessing the Internet via the GPRS network.

This year AIS targets 30-per-cent growth of its value-added service revenue, which includes both voice and data services - up from Bt12 billion last year.

"We're very pleased to take another remarkable step to make Web searches available on mobile phones through Google," said AIS president Wichian Mektrakarn. "Our customers are now able to search the Web anytime and anywhere as well as benefit from the familiarity of Google's Web search service on their phones." Somchai added that AIS planned to introduce additional Google services to its customers in the near future.

Emmanuel Sauquet, Google's director of wireless partnership, Asia Pacific and Latin America, said that joining with AIS served Google's goal to provide the power of its search engine to everyone.

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation