Microsoft has acquired technology firm TellMe for an undisclosed amount, writes CNET. The purchase gives Microsoft access to various specialty areas that TellMe focuses on, including speech recognition and mobile search technologies.

TellMe has been especially been focused on the ability to return search results based on what users speak into their mobile devices; the results would then be delivered to the device. The company has also been working on mobile search that uses text messaging as a way for the user to submit a query.

TellMe also provides enterprise solutions, such as the voice portals it operates for FedEx, American Express and others. Executives from the company are expected to join Microsoft once the acquisition has been completed.

Mobile search is an area that all the major search players - Microsoft, Yahoo and Google - are experimenting with as they search for the best user-experience and business models.