Google has announced details of a partnership with China Mobile that is set to give customers in the Asian country the chance to search the internet from their mobile phones.

Using Google's search engine technology, consumers will be able to browse the internet via China Mobile's Monternet WAP portal.

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said: "Creating an enhanced mobile experience is a very important focus for Google."

He added that the search engine giant was continuing to look to "develop compelling services that provide users worldwide with access to information directly from their mobile device".

The scheme, which was trialed at the end of 2006, is set for a broader launch in the early part of this year.

China Mobile claims to be the largest mobile telecoms carrier in the world.

Last week, Henry Wang, head of operations of user-generated website Xunlei, announced Google was about to make an investment in the Chinese company.