Google drops new iPhone-optimized search portal

Even with the T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) G1 bringing Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s new mobile platform to the masses, it seems that Google still respects the iPhone and it’s mobile browsing market influence. With the iPhone Safari browser grabbing chunks of the mobile web browser market and driving mobile web consumption around the world, Google has rolled out a new iPhone-optimized search portal.

The new portal presents users with search results in a format that fits perfectly on the iPhone’s display. Searches through Google’s portal previously returned results in a desktop-format that forced users to zoom-in to read just a portion of the results. The new format delivers searches that are easily readable without the need to zoom.

Search results with phone numbers now support and one-touch dialing, while search results with addresses are displayed with Google Maps inserts and allow for one-touch directions. Google “Images” searches are returned in a more iPhone-friendly format, as are the “News” and “Local” sections of Google’s search portal.

But, iPhone users will have to go directly to Google’s search page (point the iPhone Safari browser to google.com) to take advantage of the new iPhone-tailored portal. Searching from the iPhone Safari browser’s integrated Google search bar will whisk you away to Google’s desktop-formatted search portal. Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) would do well to integrate the Safari browser’s Google search-bar with the new iPhone-optimized format.

The new iPhone portal is available to US users only. So if you’re a Yankee, go ahead, give it a try!