Virgin Mobile USA to Offer Local Mobile Search

Virgin Mobile USA, an MVNO that runs on the Sprint Network, announced that it would be adding JumpTap-powered local search. Users will be able to type a query and their zip, city or state to get local information on their mobile phones. This is an expansion of an existing mobile search relationship between the companies that began last year.

JumpTap competes with Medio Systems and InfoSpace-Fast in the private label mobile search market. Its carrier partners compete with Google and Yahoo! for consumer usage.

Virgin Mobile USA is jointly owned by Sprint and the UK-based Virgin Group.

Recently search marketing firm iCrossing found that local content and search where highly in-demand services in mobile.