How Are Google And Microsoft Responding To Siri

Siri – a game changer in the world of smartphones

Need an app? Go to Google Play or Apple's app store. Want to keep your android tablet safe? Turn to one of The Snugg's UK nexus 10 cases. Need to schedule an appointment? Ask Siri.

When Apple released the iPhone 4S in October 2011 it also unveiled Siri, its intelligent personal assistant that would prove to be a game-changer in the world of voice-activated smartphone features. The company made a big show of Siri during the launch, putting forward the angle that consumers would have at their disposal a service capable of learning their individual preferences and making targeted suggestions. However, something a lot of people are unaware of is the fact that Siri was originally destined to appear on a range of platforms, including Android and Blackberry operating systems. Naturally, Apple's acquisition of Siri.Inc put a stop to that development in 2010 and since then the American technology giant's competitors have been wondering how to combat the feature known as Siri.

Google

In a bid to take search to the next level, Google has been working on a rival version of Siri called Google Now.  The technology is designed to provide search results for a user before they have even asked a question. Once a person has logged into their account, the programme will use their search history, email archive and calendar records to provide information that might be of use. For example, it might use a person's location and suggest how long it will take them to get home, or what the weather is, or directions to a theatre if the person has e-tickets in their email account.

To some, the technology will seem a little bit too much like Big Brother, but others are likely to embrace it warmly. The release of Google Now via an app on Apple iOS has been seen by industry experts as a sign that Google is more interested in securing the widest possible audience, rather than simply encouraging people to use Android smartphones.

Brain Blau, consumer technology research director at the consultants Gartner, said: "They do want to entice people to buy Android devices, but they know not everybody's going to, and they still want to deliver their services - especially for people who are already using their products on iOS."

Microsoft

According to Microsoft, "speech is a natural way to interact with everyday devices" and taking a line directly from Apple, Microsoft has brought its Tellme technology to its suite of products. Tellme is accessed in the same way as Siri, on the Windows Phone 7 at least, by holding down the start button and speaking. Within seconds Microsoft says users can text friends, see what's in their diary and be provided with directions. Reports also suggest that Microsoft is working on greatly improving its speech recognition technology inside the next Xbox games console, which is due to be launched later this year. One expected feature is a wake function that allows a user to turn off sleep mode with their voice using a phrase like "Xbox on".

There is little doubt however that Microsoft and Google are both taking the threat of Siri seriously and making moves to ensure their own customers do not desert them in favour of Apple's technology.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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