Google has updated its email offering Gmail to allow users to search the web while composing messages.

In the Compose Mail section of Gmail, a Web Search box has quietly appeared on the left hand side of the composition space which previously was only available to Labs users.

While the web giant did not publically announce the new functionality, a Google UK spokesman confirmed it was new and introduced over the weekend.

When a user searches for a term in the box, the results pop out in another box at the bottom of the page with links that can be copied and pasted.

The functionality will allow users to easily add links to their email without opening a second browser window.

01 Feb 2010