In response the rise of Twitter, Google's search has officially gone real-time, but it's unclear whether the company can successfully monetize the new feature, according to a research note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. "Monetizing real-time search presents an interesting challenge," Muster writes in the note. "To fully realize the advantages of real-time search, a new type of search monetization platform would likely be necessary, but we do not believe Google will move away from its current AdWords offering for search keyword buying in the near term." An intrigued ZDNet asks whether real-time search moves too fast and is …

The Journal points to a new generation of mobile-phone software that is helping consumers shop smarter this holiday season. A mobile application named ShopSavvy, for instance, lets consumers check prices for comparable products using their smartphones. As the paper notes, shoppers are already accustomed to using the Internet to research products and prices. Now, however, mobile-shopping apps take that research on the road. Such apps identify stores in the immediate vicinity that have a product consumers are looking for, and then tells them which product is cheapest and closest. The apps, which are downloaded through the wireless connections on …

November marked another solid month for Microsoft's Bing, and another miserable month for Yahoo, according to JPMorgan analyst Imran Khan. Citing comScore data, Khan notes that Bing represented 10.3% of the market in November -- up from 9.9% in October -- while Yahoo's share was 17.5% in November -- down from 18% in October. (Google was 65.6% in November -- up from 65.4% in October.) According to the data, total U.S. core search volume increased 17.8% year-over-year in November, above the 13.2% growth in October. Ask Network's domestic core search market share dropped slightly to 3.8% in November from …

Not to be outdone by Google's foray into the URL shortening space, Facebook is testing it own URL shortener, which will initially focus on its mobile application. Beyond joining the compressed URL bandwagon, asks Search Engine Land, "the question is what are the direct and indirect benefits to Google and Facebook in creating these tools?" For one, having more traffic pass through one's site and toolbar is always nice. Removing the need to go "off site" or elsewhere to accomplish a particular function serves one's interests, too. Oh, and then there's all the juicy analytics and social media insights that …

Want to see what the U.S. mobile landscape will look like tomorrow? Just head over to Sweden or Norway, today. The Scandinavians, which apparently get everything first when it comes to mobile ("except the iPhone"), now have access to a 4G network, which, courtesy of TeliaSonera, delivers wireless download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second. At the moment, only inhabitants of Oslo or Stockholm can test out the 4G Network. TeliaSonera says it will roll out the service to 25 cities in Sweden and Norway next year. When will the mobile future arrive stateside? Verizon is supposed to …

Over the past five months, the Google-owned mobile app store Android Market has doubled in size, and just reached the 20,000 market, according to AndroLib. Google itself doesn't disclose Android Market figures, but AndroLib and others track what apps are added and at what rate. November was the biggest month for both new apps in the English language Android Market, and also the biggest gain month over month - statistics that Mashable attributes to the "success" of Verizon's Droid smartphone. Of note, games account for 15% of all apps in the market, which is comparable to the App Store's own …

Comcast has launched the trial of its "TV Everywhere" program, which gives subscribers access to extra TV programming over the Web. Dubbed "xfinity TV" -- which MediaMemo calls quite an "unwieldy new name" -- the service will initially guide users through a download process to install both a Move player and an Adobe AIR app, which the cable company says they will only have to bother with once. At some point next year, Comcast says that simply being a subscriber will be enough to qualify users for the service. At present, it's a "dual-play" offering, because that was apparently the …

Word is that Twitter is about to launch commercial accounts, and is also planning to let professional accounts attach bylines to individual tweets. The feature is designed to allow attribution among the multiple employees and contributors that often co-author big brand accounts. Select business-oriented Twitter clients like CoTweet and HootSuite already let multiple users manage a single account and assign tasks. Twitter says the new feature will be supported by its application programming interface. "The feature we are beta testing is called 'Contributors'," says Twitter. "It enables users to engage in more authentic conversations with businesses by allowing those organizations …

Google's latest product development is a real life David and Goliath tale. The search giant has launched a URL shortening service, which are popular among Twitter users and their 140 character-caps, and the raison d'etre of some itty-bitty startups like Bit.ly and TinyURL. "People share a lot of links online. This is particularly true as microblogging services such as Twitter have grown in popularity," Google said in a blog post. Why wouldn't Google go in this direction? asks PCWorld's Tech Inciter blog. "Put another way: What won't Google do to a) put …

Citing optimism among advertisers for fiscal 2010, Jefferies just raised its price target on Google's stock to $695 from $600, while reiterating its buy rating. "Our channel checks point to strengthening advertising, ecommerce environment and improving fiscal 2010 outlook, which bodes well for Google," analyst Youssef Squali said in a research note. Supporting the prospect for modestly positive growth in ecommerce this holiday season, online sales were up 3% from November 1 to December 6 of this year. "Google, with its ability to cost effectively drive traffic to e-tailers, stands to benefit disproportionately," Squali added. Indeed, over 65% …