Here's more evidence that Microsoft is willing to use its financial position to give itself a boost in the Internet search business. The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that the Redmond company has bid twice the amount Google was offering to be the default search provider on Verizon Wireless mobile phones. The move underscores the rising importance of search on mobile devices.

And the deal could have implications for Seattle mobile search startup Medio Systems, which already has a deal to provide search for music and other media offerings on some Verizon phones.

From the Journal story:

Under the terms now being considered, Microsoft would share revenue with Verizon from ads shown in response to cellphone Web searches, with guaranteed payments to the carrier of approximately $550 million to $650 million over five years, or roughly twice what Google offered, these people said.

As in the traditional search business, Microsoft has a long way to catch up in mobile search. CNet News.com cites Nielsen figures showing Google with 61 percent of the mobile search market, followed by Yahoo at 18 percent and Microsoft with 5 percent.

Over the past year or so, Microsoft has seemed more willing to pay a premium for deals that boost its position in search and advertising. Looking back, it seems like the company's loss of DoubleClick to Google in April 2007 seems to have been a turning point. Since then, the company has paid more than $6 billion for aQuantive, expanded its Facebook advertising deal at an astronomical valuation, and offered a huge premium in its (ultimately unsuccessful) Yahoo bid.