In addition to its Transit and Map Maker updates this week, Google has also updated a pair of its mobile applications.
First, a new version of Google Maps for mobile has been released for Verizon’s Blackberry Storm that allows My Location to access GPS location through the Storm’s built-in GPS functionality. There will also be added accuracy to your location in Google’s friend-finding app, Latitude. This is the first Verizon Blackberry to allow My Location access to the internal GPS. The wireless carrier has been fairly protective of its VZ Navigator revenues in the past, locking out other mapping applications, but seems to be loosening up slightly in 2009. That said, this update doesn’t apply to any Verizon Blackberry except the Storm.
Second, the Google Mobile application is available for the first time for Windows Mobile devices. The app lets WinMo users perform Google searches directly from the homescreen rather than opening the browser window. Google claims this speeds up search by 50 percent and I’m to inclined to believe that could be the lower-end of the range. It’s available now for download on all Windows Mobile devices in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
It is already available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Blackberry devices.
