Google Developing Siri Rival?
Google is rumored to have been working on its own version of voice recognition software for Android to compete with Apple’s Siri, which is currently dominating the market.
The rumored software, codenamed “Majel” after the late actress Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who provided the computerized voice of the Starship Enterprise in “Star Trek,” is being developed at a secret Google location, according to the website AndroidandMe.com.
Google does have its own version of a voice recognition application for Android called “Voice Actions.” This app, which allows users to make calls, get directions and perform searches on Android smartphones using voice commands, only responds to preset voice commands.
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Majel is expected to use intuitive voice recognition much like the software that is found in Apple’s iPhone 4S’s voice assistant, Siri. It is expected Google will use Majel for search queries at first, and will incorporate other voice commands for controlling phone functions and app actions down the line.
The search giant has already made steps towards enhancing a Siri rival. Google recently announced plans to acquire Clever Sense, a start-up that created the restaurant recommendation app “Alfred,” which provides automatic restaurant and night club recommendations based on location and past visits.
Like Google, Clever Sense’s technology in personalized, intelligent search software is likely a perfect fit for Majel, according to Forbes.
Additionally, Google’s announcement in October concerning the relocation of a senior U.K. programmer, with experience in speech recognition to its California headquarters in Mountain View, is also fueling the Majel rumor.
It also points to the company’s eagerness to catch up in the emerging field of advanced voice activated and voice recognition technology.
The speculation concerning when this technology might be available, is varied, but there are rumors that Google is planning on a release date in either January or February.
