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Google Testing Voice-Based Search In India

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Google (NSDQ: GOOG) may dominate on the PC in the developed world, but in emerging markets it knows it will have to conquer the mobile market to continues its supremacy in search. The search giant is currently testing Google Phone Search, a new voice-based search engine in India that allows consumers to search for local businesses and information. The service, available in Hyderabad and just recently in Delhi, is similar to JustDial, another India-based voice-based search engine.

Consumers call up a toll free number from either a landline or mobile and request the information they need and Google then either sends back the information through an SMS or reads it out. The free service is available in in English, Hindi and Telugu. Business Today (via Content Agenda) reports that Google has partnerships with some of of the emerging markets’ largest operators and handset makers in emerging markets, including Airtel, KDDI, DocoMo, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD), Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Samsung.

Google Director of Product Management Dipchand Nishar said the goal was to be “in every phone and a key part of the mobile ecosystem.” He also reported that Google is looking at “hybrid” solutions” to improve their presence in the mobile market. Said Nishar, “This could be in the form of taking a photograph of a product’s barcode with your phone camera, using mobile Google search to find where and at what prices this product is available and making it available on your phone in real time.”

Sep 8, 2008 10:26 AM ET

Posted In: Search, Technologies / Formats, Companies, Google, Countries, Asia, India

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