Google, Twitter extend mobile partnership to desktop search

Google and Twitter announced yesterday their partnership placing tweets in online search results had been extended to desktop.

The two tech firms confirmed the same in a tweeted exchange.

"Hey @twitter, Search party at our place. Meet us on desktop?" Google said, to which Twitter replied, "You got it, @google. We'll bring the Tweets."

In May, the two firms agreed to place tweets in Google mobile search results, and to extend the  same to desktop at a later time.

The two firms had agreed on a similar arrangement dating back to 2009. However tweets disappeared from Google search results in 2011.

According to commentators, the arrangement could spur engagement at Twitter which had seen a slowdown in growth as against other social networks. It also brings fresh content and commentary from Twitter to Google search queries.

"It's a great way to get real-time info when something is happening," Google's Ardan Arac said when the deal was announced in May, AFP reported.

In an update Friday, Arac said, "We've extended this to desktop now too, and in English everywhere."

The announcement officially comes from Google's Twitter handle as also on an updated Google blog post. With the new desktop integration, it was now possible to search for Twitter accounts, tweets, trending topics and hashtags with a regular Google search.

Including real-time events in Google search results was not new, but the Twitter integration, added a whole new dimension.

However, for starters Twitter results on desktop was enabled only for English language.

Though the micro-blogging site had its own search feature, a lot of users are more comfortable with Google.

The integration would also make it a bit easier to judge Twitter reaction for any particular event or breaking news. At the same time, it would also eliminate the need of performing multiple searches to a greater extent.