Google has introduced a new service that lets users start searches by
simply speaking questions into their iPhones. The free Google Voice
Search service, due to be introduced today, uses sophisticated voice
recognition technology to access Google's vast database of information.
Responses are sent to the iPhone as text.
Some
of the responses will be linked to local information, enabling Google
to potentially charge a higher fee for advertising tied to the user's
location, which can be determined from the iPhone's location
capabilities.
Voice recognition has steadily improved and is now
widely used in company customer service systems. Microsoft offers the
TellMe servie for BlackBerry and other smartphones for directions and
other basic information. Yahoo provides Onesearch with Voice. The
Google service appears more accurate than Yahoo's, according to the New
York Times' John Markoff, who tested the service.
Experts say
Google's advantage is its vast store of data, which should make the
voice recognition program better as time goes by and as the system
learns from its mistakes.
Google indicates the service will soon be adapted for other smartphones and for other languages.