November 14, 2008

Google Voice Search for iPhone

In 2002, Google Labs introduced a service that allowed you to search Google with a simple phone call. Unfortunately, the service wasn't very useful because the results were displayed on your computer and Google discontinued it.


Six years later, Google Mobile App for iPhone introduces the same feature, but this time the search results are displayed in the same application. Google built a sophisticated platform for text-to-speech and speech recognition using data from GOOG-411 and we can already some of its applications in Mobile Google Apps, YouTube and in this updated iPhone app.


It's quite weird to say how to download the app: since Apple doesn't offer user-friendly permalinks, you'll have to visit the iPhone App Store and search for "Google Mobile App". This iPhone app is just a sneak-peak into the future of mobile search, which will become more intuitive and easier to use.

"In the next 10 years, we will see radical advances in modes of search: mobile devices offering us easier search, Internet capabilities deployed in more devices, and different ways of entering and expressing your queries by voice, natural language, picture, or song, just to name a few. It's clear that while keyword-based searching is incredibly powerful, it's also incredibly limiting. These new modes will be one of the most sweeping changes in search," anticipates Marissa Mayer. She even envisions a "wearable device that does searches in the background based on the words it picks up from conversations" to illustrate how search will become a part of our life.

18 comments:

  1. Awesome!!! Can't wait until it's available in the iTunes app store!!!! Great job google!!!!

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  2. Hi. I'm a touch confused though. The Mobile Google Apps application on the iphone hasn't changed to include voice, right?

    You're entirely right ot see the confluence of projects here and think of their application, but after digging around , it seems I was confused and that there is not a new voice-activated google app for the iphone. Please let me know if I'm wrong.

    G

    p.s. Thank you for running this blog. Its serves a very useful purpose.

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  3. This is an update just to the integrated search application, no news on adding voice to the maps apps.

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  4. By the way, you can get permalinks to iTunes Store apps by right-clicking on the icon and choose "Copy iTunes Store URL". Here's the one for the Google App:

    http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284815942&mt=8

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  5. awesome now google will known what I search and WHO I am!!

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  6. My newly downloaded version still does not have this feature. (ver 0.1.414.559) Is it being rolled out slowly?

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  7. You might want to do a follow-up story on this. There has been a lot of news on the subject. The app was supposed to be released on Friday but still has not been for unknown reasons. People are getting pissed, including me...

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  8. Why can't i use voice search from my desktop or notebook microphone? This doesn't seem like it should be that big of a feature since the voice is already being translated into words...

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  9. lol at unicorn pictures

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  10. Any idea when the app will be available worldwide?

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  11. I think it's great!!! I have an iPhone and that's cool.
    Thanks google

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  12. This app rocks. Seems like kind of a big deal, surprised Google didn't make an major announcement about it?

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  13. Why is Google advertising Sub-set of Onev's patent this way? What Google intended to patent was not allowed. This product appears to be a truncated version of what Google tried to steal/borrow without permission from One Voice Technologies.

    http://blog.onev.com/blogsite/2008/06/voice-search-patents.html#more

    If that link does not work go to blog.onev.com and click on voice search.

    If you like this product ask Google why its not working with One Voice Technologies on the real deal...

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  14. onev has the stuff

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  15. Looks like more of mainstream is becoming available that will service not only the general public, but will be good for visually impaired people also. Thanks yall!

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  16. One voice technologies - voice recognition is alot better. Also google took onev.com patents. I hope one voice technologies does something about it.

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  17. It's not working on the iPhone anymore with the motion sensor action now disabled. I guess google hadn't worked all the bugs out yet. Does onev have a iPhone app with metasearch capability like Dogpile? That would be great!

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