Google have announced a plugin for cellphones that use the Symbian S60 OS, which puts a search box directly onto the homescreen. Hitting the pencil or ‘Ctrl’ key calls up a text entry box; enter a term, hit search and it automatically opens up a browser page with the results. Options include presetting a default zip or postal code for location-based queries and swapping between the ‘classic’ or ‘mobile’ versions of the results page.

The internet connection, assuming it isn’t already live, is started as soon as the pencil key is pressed, which makes the eventual search seem even quicker. The software is available to download now, at http://mobile.google.com

UPDATE: I had to test Google’s new S60 search plugin for myself to see if there’s that big of a difference; and holy smokes — let me tell you sonny boy, there sure is. Check out the video below and see it for yourself. -Vincent

[via AllAboutSymbian]