Google has started showing mobile application results in their mobile web search results, potentially marking the beginnings of the intersection of web search and mobile apps. This initial implementation of mobile installable application results in mobile web search result is the first step.
Mobile network infrastructure and mobile handset hardware are improving, and web standards such as HTML5 with support for interactive features are in the very beginning stages of proliferation. As these advances give rise to rich, interactive web-based mobile applications (web-apps), I think that these installable application results may soon give way, or will grow to include results for web apps.
From the Google Mobile Blog:
As of today, if you go to Google.com on your iPhone or Android-powered device and search for an app, we’ll show special links and content at the top of the search results. You can tap these links to go directly to the app’s Android Market or iPhone App Store page. You can also get a quick look at some of the app’s basic details including the price, rating, and publisher. These results will appear when your search pertains to a mobile application and relevant, well-rated apps are found.
Update 2010-06-07, 13:56EDT – In his WWDC Keynote Speech, Steve Jobs just gave a nod to the viability of HTML5-based web apps, stating “”Next, I’d like to talk about the App Store. Before I do that, I want to make something clear. We support two platforms: HTML5 — it’s a completely open, uncontrolled platform. And we fully support it.”
Screenshot of HTML5 app Steve Jobs quote from Engadget’s live keynote coverage