AT&T Wireless adding Google to phones

AT&T Wireless has signed a deal with Google to provide search access to its Internet-ready mobile phone customers.

The Google service, which is available to users of AT&T's Digital PocketNet Service Premium Plan, will automatically convert HTML Web pages using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), a standard that allows mobile devices to access the Internet.

Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Google, which has built a loyal following among Web users for its easy search capability, has signed a spate of wireless deals recently, providing search services for companies including Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, Handspring, Palm and Vodafone.

In August, Google signed a deal to provide search services for Sony's company sites. And last year, it grabbed the Yahoo account from Inktomi, allowing it to provide search services for the giant portal.

The privately held company is backed by big venture capital firms including Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. But Chief Executive Eric Schmidt, who took over the top spot in August, said recently that "the market's not conducive" for an initial public offering.