Searching For Mobile Content

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for searching for mobile content. A method includes receiving, via a user interface, at a computer system independent of the mobile device, information identifying the mobile device to receive computer data; receiving, at the computer system, information identifying the computer data to be downloaded to the mobile device; using the computer system to search computer data offerings from mobile device content providers for the computer data; and wirelessly transmitting to the mobile device data corresponding to a search result. Another method includes an application, on a mobile device, querying a computer system independent of the mobile device for a result of a search for the computer data, and causing the downloading of the computer data.

1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor to:
 receive from a first mobile computing device search criteria; 
 identify an application that corresponds with the search criteria; 
 receive, from the first mobile computing device, an indication that the application is to be a gift; 
 receive, from the first mobile computing device, identifying information associated with a second mobile computing device; 
 receive, from the first mobile computing device, payment information for the application; and 
 transmit, to the second mobile computing device, information enabling the second mobile computing device to download the application from a mobile device content provider as the gift. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of a phone number, an email address, and an account identification. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the search criteria comprises a title of the application, and   the at least one processor receives, from the first mobile computing device, the title of the application and searches for the application based on the title of the application.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further to receive, from the second mobile computing device, a request to download the application from the mobile device content provider. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further to determine a compatible version of the application for the second mobile computing device based on the identifying information. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the search criteria comprises information identifying an application. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further to receive an inventory of at least one application installed on the second mobile computing device and determine an alternative application to substitute for the application for the second mobile computing device responsive to the inventory of the at least one application. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further to send a notification to the second mobile computing device indicating a user of the first mobile computing device sent the application as the gift and the application is available for downloading. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further to receive, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria from a download-assistance tool installed on the first mobile computing device, the search criteria responsive to a selection by a user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further to receive, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria from a gifting application installed on the first mobile computing device, the search criteria responsive to a selection by a user. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by at least one processor from a first mobile computing device, search criteria;   identifying, by the at least one processor, an application that corresponds with the search criteria;   receiving, by the at least one processor from the first mobile computing device, an indication that the application is to be a gift;   receiving, by the at least one processor from the first mobile computing device, identifying information associated with a second mobile computing device;   receiving, by the at least one processor from the first mobile computing device, payment information for the application; and   transmitting, by the at least one processor to the second mobile computing device, information enabling the second mobile computing device to download the application from a mobile device content provider as the gift.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the identifying information, the identifying information comprising at least one of a phone number, an email address, and an account identification. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the search criteria comprises a title of the application, and   the method further comprises receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the title of the application and searching for the application based on the title of the application.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the second mobile computing device, a request to download the application from the mobile device content provider. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a compatible version of the application for the second mobile computing device based on the identifying information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria, the search criteria comprising information identifying an application. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving an inventory of at least one application installed on the second mobile computing device and determining an alternative application to substitute for the application for the second mobile computing device responsive to the inventory of the at least one application. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sending a notification to the second mobile computing device indicating a user of the first mobile computing device sent the application as the gift and the application is available for downloading. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria from a download-assistance tool installed on the first mobile computing device, the search criteria responsive to a selection by a user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria from a gifting application installed on the first mobile computing device, the search criteria responsive to a selection by a user. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving from a first mobile computing device search criteria;   identifying an application that corresponds with the search criteria;   receiving, from the first mobile computing device, an indication that the application is to be a gift;   receiving, from the first mobile computing device, identifying information associated with a second mobile computing device;   receiving, from the first mobile computing device, payment information for the application; and   transmitting to the second mobile computing device information enabling the second mobile computing device to download the application from a mobile device content provider as the gift.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the identifying information, the identifying information comprising at least one of a phone number, an email address, and an account identification. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the search criteria comprises a title of the application, and   the operations further comprise receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the title of the application and searching for the application based on the title of the application.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising receiving, from the second mobile computing device, a request to download the application from the mobile device content provider. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising determining a compatible version of the application for the second mobile computing device based on the identifying information. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising receiving from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria, the search criteria comprising information identifying an application. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising receiving an inventory of at least one application installed on the second mobile computing device and determining an alternative application to substitute for the application for the second mobile computing device responsive to the inventory of the at least one application. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising sending a notification to the second mobile computing device indicating a user of the first mobile computing device sent the application as the gift and the application is available for downloading. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria from a download-assistance tool installed on the first mobile computing device, the search criteria responsive to a selection by a user. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising receiving, from the first mobile computing device, the search criteria from a gifting application installed on the first mobile computing device, the search criteria responsive to a selection by a user.