Searchme Inc. has released a free application for owners of an iPhone or iPod touch that acts as an independent search engine. Users needn't use Apple's Safari to open pages after entering their query. Searchme is immediately available for download via the iTunes App Store for handsets running firmware 2.1 or later.

According to the iTunes App Store description, Searchme lets you see web pages without having to click through. The team of developers has found that this makes searching the web considerably faster, with results being presented in a stack of pages that you can flip through or expand with your finger.

This means you no longer have to wait for them to load into your browser. And while Searchme works on the EDGE, a 3G or Wi-Fi connection is recommended for best results. As soon as you've found what you are looking for, all you need to do to open a page is double tap! The app also offers suggestions as you type, thus providing results easier and faster.

“Mobile web searching has evolved. Introducing Searchme—the first search engine designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch,” says Searchme Inc. “Searchme's patent pending 'category suggest' technology understands your query and suggests appropriate categories as you type, allowing you to get only the results you want.”

It is quite surprising to see that an app like Searchme has made it into the App Store. Searchme clearly “steals” some of the searches that would have been rightfully done through Safari, Apple's web browsing solution on the iPhone and iPod touch.

On the other hand, the approval of Searchme on the App Store stands as potential evidence that Apple isn't, in fact, working on its own search engine. Apple has a history of rejecting apps that it considered too similar to what it had in the works.

Use the link below to download Searchme and give it a try. We are waiting to see your impressions on the app.

Download Searchme via iTunes App Store (Free)