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Windows Mobile 6.5 Gets Voice-Activated Service!
6:42:28 PM
Now the convenience of voice is coming to Windows
phones, bringing people closer to the things they want by providing
easier access to more of the phone’s functionality.
Thursday, April 30, 2009:
Tellme Networks Inc., a Microsoft
subsidiary, has announced a mobile voice service that combines content
and communications, simplifying how people interact with their phones
every day. Unlike other voice-based services, Tellme allows people to
press one button, say what they want and get it, whether that is to
send a text, make a call or search for information. Tellme has designed
a version of this experience specifically for Windows phones due out
this fall.
The
new service puts many of the most popular phone functions behind a
single button. Windows phone users just press the side button of their
phone to do the following: send a text by saying “text” to open a text
box, then speak the text message and say “send” to send it to anyone in
their contact list; initiate a call simply by saying “call” and then
the name of anyone in their contact list; and search the Web with
Microsoft Live Search by speaking your request, such as “weather in San
Francisco, California,” “pizza in Kansas City,” “movies” or “Mother’s
Day gift ideas”
“Because it’s so intuitive, we believe there is
a real opportunity for voice to materialise as the leading user
interface for the phone,” said Dariusz Packzuski, senior director,
consumer services,t Tellme. “By bringing voice access to calling,
texting and searching, together we reduce ‘menu surfing’ on phones and
make the benefits of voice more tangible for everyday needs.”
In
a head-to-head comparison, it is clear why people prefer voice over
touch. For example, it requires four touches and more than 20
keystrokes to find a business with the Apple iPhone, while it only
takes one button push and one verbal command to find the same business
with Tellme, the company explains. Tellme’s research shows similar
results for other tasks, such as making calls, sending text messages
and conducting searches for content such as traffic, movies, news and
sports.
“For example, Sprint has integrated voice access to the
Live Search application on Sprint Instinct phones and subscribers love
it,” Packzuski said. “In fact, we’ve seen impressive adoption of voice
with three in every four search queries being initiated by voice.”
With
Tellme, people using the latest Windows phones will be able to simply
say what they want, such as “call Mom” or “text Jim” or “pizza,” and
results display on the screen.
Tellme will be available for free
on Windows Mobile 6.5 phones in fall 2009 when the phones hit store
shelves. Initially available in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile
store, the service will also be available for free to mobile operators
and carriers to embed “on-device” for a voice experience right out of
the box.
Now the convenience of voice is coming to Windows
phones, bringing people closer to the things they want by providing
easier access to more of the phone’s functionality.