Ask.com Mobile launches voice-activated direction service
January 4, 2008
Mobile users can now speak their search queries using Ask.com's Click to Speak application
Ask.com debuted new voice-activated functions to its Ask.com Mobile Directions service, adding another layer of sophistication for mobile search.
Called Click to Speak, the service lets users speak their location and desired destination to get directions on their Web-enabled mobile devices. This cuts the need to type addresses, as searches are typically conducted on the mobile phone.
"Voice input is consistent with our overall strategy of making search easier and more efficient to users,” said Doug Leeds, senior vice president of product management at Ask.com, Oakland, CA. “We are very happy with the way voice has integrated with our mobile data services.”
Ask.com is a unit of online media giant IAC’s IAC Search & Media business. It is the fourth-most-trafficked search engine after Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.
Available immediately, Click to Speak uses technology from Dial Directions, a provider of voice-activated location-based services.
Users of the new Ask.com Mobile service will now see a new "Click to Speak" option. Upon clicking, they are asked to speak their location and chosen destination, either by specific address or closest intersection.
Once that step is completed, they receive a text message with a link to directions that can be viewed in either traditional list or turn-by-turn step format. They have an extra option to switch between driving or walking routes.
Carrier and data charges may apply.
“Until now, in order to get directions on the road you had to use a cumbersome keypad,” Mr. Leeds said. “Voice eliminates this. Voice is something we are interested in. This is our first step into it and we expect to continue down this path.”