If you want to quickly search using Spotlight on the iPhone, you can do so without having to swipe. From the first Home screen, tap the Home button and you'll get the spotlight search screen. If you are on one of the other home screens, tap the Home button once to get back to the first home screen, then tap it again to get the search screen... this is a lot quicker than swiping multiple times if you are far from the first home screen.