In an Australian first, Optus and Google announced today an alliance to provide Google Web Search to Optus mobile customers via Optus Zoo.

Under the agreement, Optus mobile customers will be able to access Google on the Optus Zoo homepage, enabling them to conduct a search on Google just like they would on a PC.

Warren Hardy, Managing Director Optus Consumer, said adding Google Web Search to the Optus offering was yet another example of Optus' promise to deliver a truly convergent communications experience to its customers.

"From October 2006 Optus' 6.56 million mobile customers 1 will have the ability to search Google via their mobile phone - putting Google in the palm of their hand," Mr Hardy said.

"We see this is as a major step forward in making Australian consumers more mobile in their day-to-day lives. Our customers can be out and about and still have the tools to find a restaurant, see movie times or even answer an elusive trivia quiz question.

"Google is renowned for delivering the fastest and most accurate search results - so we are very excited about this partnership and we are sure our customers will be too," Mr Hardy said.

Richard Kimber, Google's Managing Director of Sales and Operations for South East Asia, is delighted that Google is working with Optus to add Google Web Search to the Optus Zoo homepage.

"The partnership demonstrates our commitment to making the mobile phone a more convenient and dependable device for accessing useful and relevant information while on the go. For millions of Optus mobile users it means they can now quickly and easily use Google to find whatever they are looking for at any time," Mr Kimber said.

Media contact:
Luisa Ford / Tracy Monkman
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 5045 / (02) 9342 5302