Speak now

Last week Google announced plans to launch a voice recognition tool for Apple's iPhone, an update to an existing mobile app that will enable users to perform searches by stating their query out loud.

Vocal queries are converted into digital files and parsed into text-based search queries. Results are sent back to a user's handheld, reports The New York Times. And iPhone's triangulation functionality tailors search results to the person's location.

The voice-recognition update to Google's iPhone search tool will be available at no cost through the iTunes Store. Once successfully launched on iPhone, Google plans to expand the technology to other handheld units.

Google patented voice search technology in 2006, unrolling it in its GOOG 411 service early on. Last April, Yahoo and Verizon launched similar voice-based search offerings. And one startup, Pudding, uses voice recognition technology to serve ads across VOIP services.

Image credit: PC World.