Google adds voice control to mobile app for Blackberry

Google My Location

Google's My Location application for BlackBerry handsets now includes a voice control function.

It also features a locator, removing the need to put in the exact address of where you are, especially useful if you are in a new area or do not know the postcode.

Google mobile application engineer Luca Zanolin wrote about the new updates to the application on his blog.

He said: "If you're like us and hate typing on that tiny keyboard, you'll be glad to hear that Google Mobile App on your Blackberry will let you search with your voice and with My Location."

The system will work for UK and US English accents, a benefit to users who maybe unsure of spellings.

Zanolin gave an example on his blog: "You are on vacation, you could have sworn your friend said to meet in 'Lester Square'. Unfortunately 'Lester Square' is nowhere to be found on the Tube map. A quick voice search on Google Mobile App (just press and hold the green button) for 'Lester Square' reveals the true spelling. Leicester Square is actually only two stops away on the Piccadilly Line. Problem solved."

Google Mobile App is now available on all versions of BlackBerry running on O/S 4.1+ and with Search by Voice on O/S 4.2 and above but, to some users' dismay, is not available on the Storm model.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.