Google expands AOL partnership to mobile

Mobile is playing a key role in Google's renewal of its deal with AOL. Google, which provides AOL's Web sites with search results, renewed its five-year deal with the firm and expanded it to include AOL sites for cell phones and other mobile devices. In addition, Google will put AOL's video content on its YouTube site.  

As part of the deal, AOL will share revenue with Google from any ads that appear next to the search results. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong called the deal a "home run" and said it was an important part of the firm's turnaround efforts. AOL, which split from Time Warner last year, has been trying to stay relevant by growing its online ad business.

Armstrong added that before deciding to stick with Google, AOL talked with five or six other search providers.

This is the second mobile move AOL has made this week.  On Wednesday AOL acquired mobile applications developer Rally Up. AOL called the move part of a new "mobile-first" strategy. The Rally Up application combines private microblogging with location, enabling users to share text and photos--FacePlant, presently under review in Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store, will offer information on which contacts are able to chat via the iPhone 4's new FaceTime video application.

For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)

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