Alltel Wireless (NYSE: AT), America's largest network, and JumpTap, the leading provider of mobile search and advertising solutions, today announced the launch of the first carrier-branded mobile search application to be preloaded on handsets with a dedicated search key.

The new, dedicated search key launches an Alltel-branded BREW client that presents Alltel subscribers with a search box to find content, services and information. The visibility of the dedicated key will not only increase the uptake of mobile search, but also will increase content purchases by helping subscribers find what they want quickly and easily.

"At Alltel, we are constantly striving to make the mobile experience simpler and more enjoyable," Wade McGill, senior vice president of product management for Alltel Wireless, said. "We have successfully used dedicated keys in the past to provide content we wanted to make readily available, including games and ringtones. It's been proven that the easier it is for subscribers to find applications, the more likely it is that they will be adopted."

McGill added, "We believe search is really at the heart of the mobile experience and by putting JumpTap's search solution right on the handset, our subscribers will use it even more often to find what they are searching for."

JumpTap's search engine, which has been available on Alltel since September 2006, returns the most relevant results from on and off the Alltel deck. Organic results are returned to user queries, along with targeted paid search links and contextual display advertisements, giving subscribers a comprehensive, user-friendly search experience.

"Search helps subscribers find content and information quickly and easily.  The easier it is for subscribers to find the search application, the better the user experience," said Dan Olschwang, President and CEO of JumpTap. "From our past experience we know that simply placing the search box above the fold on a WAP page doubles its usage. Putting it on the handset will multiply that further because it is even more accessible.  Alltel has made a great commitment to the future of the mobile Internet by making search an integrated part of its offering."

The LG8600 handset will be the first to have the search application preloaded into a handset. The search functionality will be preloaded on additional handsets over the coming months. All enabled handsets will feature a magnifying glass search icon on the key that will launch the Alltel-branded search box when depressed.