Google announced a new search application for its Android mobile operating system, designed to boost user productivity, but has Android users outside of the U.S. upset as it is only available in the U.S. market.

The tool allows users to search your phone using written gestures instead of having to bring up the keyboard.

The new Gesture Search functionality is a Google Labs application for devices running Android 2.0 or above in the US. Users can just draw letters on the screen to search through contacts, music or apps.

Say you want to call your friend Anne. Just open Gesture Search and draw the letter 'A', and Gesture Search returns a list of items that have words starting with 'A', said Google research scientist Yang Li in a blog post.

If your handwriting isn't all that neat, that's OK. If the 'A' you draw looks a bit like an 'H', 'H' results will be brought up as well. Now you can either scroll down the list to find Anne or write more letters to refine the search.

Gesture Search for Android can search through most files on your phone, including contacts, applications, Internet bookmarks, music tracks, or video files.

However, the app is only available to U.S. customers running Android 2.0 or above, which divides the Android market.

Users in other countries have expressed their disappointment that they will not have access to the new features.

An Android user by the name of 'Sushubh' said, Google Nexus One owner from India. Cannot find it on the Android Market here. Disappointed.

India Google Phone Software