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Nuance launches GPS-based mobile voice search

by: admin Monday, August 13th, 2007

Rating: say again?

Nuance Voice Control, a one-click mobile search and messaging service powered by speech recognition technology, has been launched for BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM), including the BlackBerry 8800 available from AT&T, and the BlackBerry 8830 from Sprint.

The subscription-based application is integrated with the built-in GPS of the BlackBerry 8800 series smartphones, apparently making Nuance Voice Control the first location-based mobile voice search application that uses natural speech as its input mechanism. Nuance Voice Control for BlackBerry users can conduct location-based business searches (411) and receive driving directions using voice destination entry.

Nuance Voice Control for BlackBerry users can dial a contact, search the web for business listings (411), news, weather, stock quotes, sport scores and more, as well as dictate email and text messages or create calendar appointments by simply pressing a button and speaking a command. Nuance Voice Control is currently deployed in North America with Sprint and Rogers Wireless and can be downloaded through Handango.

As it’s only available at to moment in the US, we can’t try it out, but last time I had a go with Nuance speech recognition technology, it had terrible trouble with my British accent. Indeed, the history of speech recognition technology is one of disappointment because accommodating a range of accents is just so very hard to do. However, Bena and I are both going to be in the US this autumn, sorry – fall, and look forward to being obliged to eat humble pie for being sceptical – although no doubt a mouth full of that will cause even more problems for speech recognition.

See www.nuancevoicecontrol.com for more information on using the service on your BlackBerry Internet browser.