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Google Introduces Voice Actions for Android

Android robot logo.
Image via Wikipedia

Google has introduced Voice Actions for Android smart-phone devices. Voice Actions are a series of spoken commands that gives phone-users voice-control of their device. This makes it possible to perform activities such as, calling businesses and contacts, sending texts and email, listening to music, browsing the web, and completing common tasks through spoken commands instead of pressing keys or buttons. In addition users can also search the Internet, set e-mail reminders, set the alarm clock, find directions and open a map. Read how to use Google Android’s voice commands here.

This development is already being hailed as “the most significant progress Google has made in speech recognition ever since voice search was launched two years ago.” Already voice search represents one in every four searched made on Android. Meanwhile, Google has released an updated version of its search widget for Android.  Both Voice Actions and the new Google search widget requires Android 2.2. (Froyo), and will be pre-installed with the new Droid smart-phone from Motorola and Verizon. Users of other phones with Android 2.2. such as Nexus One, HTC Evo or the original Droid will need to download several app updates (see listed below) from the Android Market to get all the latest functionalities.

  • Voice Search app (includes Voice Actions)
  • Google Search widget
  • Music apps for example, Pandora, Last.fm, Rdio and mSpot

Presently, Voice Actions are only available for U.S. English speakers. Google hopes that this new feature will continue to boost Android sales and keep it ahead of its competitors such as Apple, who have a similar application called Sirl that allow users to find restaurant addresses or movie listings with voice commands.

Talking Point

What role will the ability to interact with devices by speech play in future mobile phone development?

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15 Comments

15 Comments

  1. Pingback: Tweets that mention Google Introduces Voice Actions for Android

  2. aroopam

    August 17, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    I’ve heard of voice to text conversion project from google. these tips on android voice command is another interesting piece on googles good job

  3. Domain name registration

    August 19, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    This is a new feature in smart phone industry, it will make more and more people fall in Love with Google Android.

    • prognoza meteo

      September 24, 2010 at 10:53 pm

      I would love such a feature on my phone… 🙂

  4. Android Wall

    February 18, 2011 at 6:20 am

    thats what a open source is all about no boundaries to development.

  5. Jim Olenbush

    August 15, 2011 at 4:03 am

    Voice recognition has been in the mobile industry for a few years now but it recently became popular because of Google. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Sandra

    August 24, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    It has been around for a while now and I never use it.
    Typing is easier, you are sure it will be right and you don’t feel awkward doing it.

  7. alvin

    September 9, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    I seldom use it too. Personally, it’s more convenient to use the traditional way because when I use this voice actions feature, sometimes it doesn’t do the right thing and it’s kinda annoying. But this one is a great addition though.

  8. Lyndrick

    September 22, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    Maybe it is just me with my clunky old LG phone and my slow as molasses computer, but I am really not feeling the voice movement. Not yet anyway. The closest anyone has come is the company that produces Dragon Naturally Speaking, and that program has flaws.

  9. Jerryl

    September 26, 2011 at 10:08 am

    Wow, this is a very high level technology, if they could identify voice, no wonder in the near future we could have a robots that can understand our language.

  10. pearl

    September 28, 2011 at 8:21 am

    Excellent! I wish I could have this one in my pocket. Can I have an idea of the cost of this smartest phone?

  11. nancy

    September 29, 2011 at 7:37 am

    Man this is going to be a boon for all of the android users means how cool it would be to use a phone with speaking commands only. you can easily engage yourself in other activities as well along with using the phone as well.

  12. Karen

    November 21, 2011 at 9:39 am

    This should be a really nice tool and very fun to use since it could identify our own voice. I really wonder how they made this tool. This is really an excellent technology.

  13. John Livers

    May 10, 2012 at 10:29 am

    Google probably is trying to compete with Apple’s Siri with their voice recognition system. SIRI has helped Apple sell their iPhone4S, and that success certainly has made many mobile phone makers to incorporate voice recognition software into their phones.

  14. Jacky Moore

    May 27, 2012 at 3:16 am

    Google is always ahead of everyone else, voice recognition is pretty powerful if perfected.

    Thanks for the article.

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