Google releases voice controlled map-search program for BlackBerry Pearl
Posted by: in General NewsI’m not sure how much longer people will care whether cellphones have keyboards because voice control is clearly on its way.
Google has just released a version of its mobile maps program that takes voice commands, but there are a few caveats:
Using your voice to search for businesses is super useful in situations when you can’t type, when the name of the business is long, or when you’re not sure how to spell it. In other situations — when you’re in a library or a rock concert, for example — typing makes more sense. Keeping that in mind, we designed this feature to grant you to select whether to talk or type. Get it now on your BlackBerry Pearl by visiting http://www.google.com/gmm on your mobile phone, or learn more here…
This feature is experimental, which means a couple of things. First, similar to other voice-recognition technologies, the accuracy of voice recognition will improve over time as more people use the voice search feature. Second, the feature is currently only supported on 8110, 8120 and 8130 BlackBerry Pearl models in the US.
Assuming this program works, expect Google to follow up with a voice-controlled version of Google Mobile Maps for the iPhone and, reasonably soon, for pretty much all smart phones that let you download applications.
Actually, this isn’t the first voice-control program for smart phones.
The folks at Nuance already sell an impressive service that lets users surf the Web and dictate simple memos over certain types of smart phones.
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