CINCINNATI—MobileVoiceControl Inc. is entering the voice-driven search market with an application for smart phones from Sprint Nextel Corp.
The developer launched VoiceControl, which allows users to search for mobile content, local business listings and information from the Internet; users can also give voice commands such as sending an e-mail or directing a handset to a Web site. The offering is available on Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry device, Palm Inc.’s Treo devices and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 5.0-enabled handsets.
While voice-recognition capabilities have largely failed to gain mass-market traction among U.S. users, MobileVoiceControl is one of a handful of companies looking to drive mobile search services by using the technology. Other players include BeVocal Inc.; Nuance Communications Inc.; V-Enable Inc.; VoiceSignal Technologies Inc.; and Promptu Corp., formerly Agile TV.
Google Inc. also has signaled its intention to join the fray. The Internet behemoth earlier this year was awarded a patent for speech-recognition technology that allows uses to search the Internet by uttering a few words.
“VoiceControl enables consumers to control their wireless phones with intuitive, natural speech commands,” said Steve Burns, president of MobileVoiceControl.
