Google and Nokia on Tuesday said the Internet giant's search engine will be integrated into Nokia's search technology for mobile phones.

The deal begins on four Nokia mobile phones and could expand to others.

Google is making up for lost time. Rivals Microsoft and Yahoo have a similar search engine and mobile application integration with Nokia.

Nokia has a deal with Yahoo that goes back nearly three years for some phones that came equipped with support for Yahoo Mail and other applications.

Nokia announced a similar arrangement with Microsoft's Windows Live last August.

Google's search has previously been available on Nokia Internet tablets, a portable Internet device, and last year the Nokia N95 8GB became the first mobile device to fully support YouTube, Google's video-sharing subsidiary.

Nokia has become a key target for mobile application companies because of its bold move to market its wares directly to customers.

"The mobile application companies must now deal with Nokia along with the carriers since Nokia is now bypassing the carriers," said Shahid Khan, a partner with IBB Consulting Group.

Facing increasing market saturation in its core mobile phone business, Nokia is attempting to gain a foothold in the related mobile application market and its direct-to-the-customer strategy is connected to that goal.

Google is also attempting to gain a foothold in an adjacent market. In aneffort to gain a stronger position in the mobile market, Google is marketing Android, a mobile phone operating system, while advocating open mobile networks.