Last summer, Google launched the search field trial for users to opt into, and have Google return results from their Gmail accounts, when relevant, when performing regular web searches. This also included flight information, and Google eventually added data from Google Drive and Calendar into the mix.

Now Google has announced the further expansion of the field trial, with users now able to search Gmail contacts from the web search box.

Google says it will also soon add data from Google+ profiles into the mix.

Google had this to say in a Google+ update:

Google13 hours ago

If you’re in the Google Search field trial (g.co/searchtrial), you can now look up your Gmail contacts directly from Search. Want quick directions to your friend Brittney's house while on the move? You can use Voice Search to ask "What’s Brittney's address?" and Google will show you the address, with turn-by-turn directions in one tap on your phone. If you need quick access to your friend Joanna's phone number, just say "Joanna's phone number" and it's there; with one tap you can call her. Join the field trial at http://g.co/searchtrial and let us know what you think.

We currently support all of your Gmail contacts and we'll be adding support for G+ profiles soon.

354    36 Powered by socialditto

The field trial search has been one of the most significant things Google has done in search in terms of bringing together users’ data from its various products, which it technically should be able to do for any signed-in user. It will be interesting to see how long this functionality remains on an opt-in basis. The company, of course, still faces issues over the privacy policy that allows it to share its data from product to product.