A mobile version of Google News launched today, making the perpetually beta service more accessible. At the same time, Google narrowed the list of news sources from the already limited 4,500 touted on the online U.S. front page (so far the it’s only country being offered ) o only those “whose content has been designed specifically for viewing on mobile devices.” (No number provided.) The result, while it makes sense from a usability perspective, is a more narrow window — and a lower profile for some news orgs. For instance, the online front page headlines about the first woman elected to the Baseball hall of Fame leads with a story from SI.com that doesn’t seem to make the mobile cut but rival ESPN.com did. Online, the New York Times has the lead story about Saddam Hussein; in my handset, it’s from the AP; no NYT headlines listed. (The Times has a WAP edition with headlines and abstracts.)
Google doesn’t explain its standards. Does it matter to the news site if it’s left out? Probably not much now becuase of limited use but it will. If you’re from a news site and could care less, please share your thinking in the comments.
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