Google has today launched a service that will allow people to access Google News and gmail via their mobile phones.

The search engine giant will also allow users to personalise the homepage on their phone.

Already available in the US, the service is being launched today across the UK, France, Germany and Spain as part of Google’s expansion into the mobile market.

The majority of modern mobile phones will be capable of accessing this new range of services, which Google is offering for free. However, mobile companies may make additional charges for web access.

Users can access Google News from their mobile browser by clicking the link from the search engine's home page. The mobile version provides news categories in the same way the online version does.

The stories that appear will only be from sources whose content has been designed specifically for viewing on a mobile phone.

To access email, users can visit gmail.com through the web browser on their mobile and sign in to their gmail account as they would on the web.

The service allows users to view attachments and reply-by-call to people whose phone number is stored in their gmail account.

From the mobile homepage, those who have already set up a personalised homepage on their computer can click the appropriate link, and sign in with their Google account username and password.

The next time they visit Google on their phone, they will automatically see the same customised content modules that are featured on their web version.

Users without an account or personalised Google homepage on their PC will need to create one before using the service on their mobiles.

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