Google's Voice-Search App for iPhone Needs Refining

The much-anticipated Google voice-search application for Apple’s iPhone, which was trumpeted to be available for download on Friday, has arrived on Apple’s App Store a bit later than expected. A reviewer says the application is okay, but needs some fine-tuning.

Called Google Mobile App, it allows users to search the Web by voice and finally debuted late Monday. “Companies announce iPhone apps all of the time, and sometimes they make it through in a timely manner and sometimes it is delayed,” said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy at Jupitermedia.

iPhone owners need not press the touchscreen or type, just wait for a beep and say what they are searching for, according to Google. Another way to start a voice search is by tapping the microphone. If you’re in a meeting and can’t talk, Google Mobile App also allows you to type a search question.

The app has a personalized search-location feature which recognizes where you are when requesting a search. To use this feature, however, users must enable location services on the iPhone and allow Google Mobile App to use the location.

‘Not Quite There Yet’

Glitches appeared not just in the app’s availability, but also in its features.

“This is not exactly brand-new,” Gartenberg said. “It mostly works, but my experience with it was that it generated errors and that voice recognition is not quite there yet, but it does show what is possible.”

Asked if Google and Apple rolled out the app prematurely, Gartenberg said, “I think it is working well enough to be out and this is not a problem, but I’d expect it to be refined.”

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