Google Integrates Tweets Directly To Its Search Results On Mobile

Google has now added tweets to its search results on mobile, through the official Google mobile app on the Android and iOS operating systems, as well as on web browsers made for mobile devices. The tweet-including search results can be triggered by using the keyword "Twitter" especially when googling for specific Twitter accounts and hashtags. However, if you just use any standard search, surface tweets will also be taken into consideration when displaying search results.

For instance, if you google "Taylor Swift" using your mobile, the latest tweets from the pop singer's Twitter account will show up on the search results. If you are googling trending topics and using a hashtag like, say, "#Khaleesi," you will see tweets discussing the Mother of Dragons. And if you include "Twitter" when googling -- for example, "Daily Beast Twitter," tweets from Daily Beast's Twitter account will appear on the search results.

What makes the integration so convenient is that the tweets that are displayed on the search results function like regular tweets. This means that if you tap any embedded URL, you will be directed to the linked website. Likewise, if you tap the Twitter account name, you will be taken to the full Twitter account of that particular user. 

Both Google and Twitter blogged about this latest development. On its blog, Google said that integrating tweets directly into its search results is a clear effort by the search giant to make search results display more real time information. After all, when it comes to trending topics, Twitter is often the best source to go to. Google also noted that having tweets on search results gives Twitter users expand their audience base, not only to fellow Twitter users, but also to those who do not have Twitter accounts, but can still see tweets displayed on the search results.

As for Twitter, the social media giant also took to its blog to talk about the integration. Twitter noted that the integration should start to go live among Google users based in the United States, especially those who select English as the default language when making Google searches. Support for other countries is expected to be deployed in the coming months. The same goes for Google's desktop website.

This new deal is said to exclude revenues from advertising. If that is so, then Google is likely paying Twitter a flat licensing fee in order to access the social media giant's data. Licensing arrangements notwithstanding, Twitter should benefit either way financially.