Understanding Mobile Phone Search

The behaviour of mobile phone search is changing. Traditionally, mobile phone search means on the move, limited time and high failure rate for finding relevant information. However, due to the fast development of smartphones, improved mobile broadband and mobile internet with lower cost and the blooming of social networks, makes smartphones a primary device for mobile information access in more stationary and familiar locations, such as at home or at work. This changing behaviour could significant influence the mobile phone search domain. In order to improve the design of mobile search for mobile phone users, a deeper understanding of mobile information needs, behaviours, underlying motivations and associated interaction challenges are fundamental tasks. The aim of this study is to understand the current change in mobile information needs, behaviours and motivations, and their impact for future mobile phone search.  In this paper, we present an online survey involving 256 users over 4 weeks period, focusing on when, where, what and how people use the mobile phone search. We discuss these findings to present a picture of how location, social context and search activity impact mobile phone search, the relationship between search activity and search motivation, and the search difference between different user groups, such as residents and visitors. Our findings show a number of implications for improving the experiences of mobile phone search.