Google launched a mobile version of its book search project on Thursday, providing 1.5 million public domain books to readers on the go.

The news comes as mobile device adoption soars and smartphone users expect PC-like Internet features and services on handsets. It also comes just days before Amazon debuts the second version of its e-reader Kindle device at a press event in New York on Feb. 9.

"One of the great things about an iPhone or Android phone is being able to play Pacman while stuck in line at the Post Office. Sometimes though, we yearn for something more than just playing games or watching videos," the Google blog noted in announcing the effort.

According to published reports, Google's new service will work on its G1 Android phone, the iPhone, certain Nokia devices and other handsets using an open-source architecture for browser application.

The mobile book effort comes four months after Google settled a legal dispute tied to copy right issues after launching its digital book effort in 2004.

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