My inbox was so jam packed yesterday that I missed the press release from our pals at vlingo letting us know that version 2 is out of beta and ready to rock! You can read the full press release after the jump, or just head on over to vlingo.com/v2 to download. If you give it a go, be sure to report back in the comments and let us know what you think!
BlackBerry Smartphone Users Get New Voice Features with vlingo Upgrade
New Features Include Facebook and Twitter Status Updates, Full Message Read-back, SureType Support and More
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (October 29, 2008) - Vlingo Corporation today debuted a new version of vlingo for BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM). Available free-of-charge*, the vlingo 2.0 for BlackBerry application adds the ability to speak Facebook and Twitter status updates, support for 10 new applications, full-text message read-back, "tell-a-friend" and SureType support.
"We launched vlingo 1.0 for BlackBerry smartphones in June, and consumer adoption has exceeded our aggressive benchmarks," said Dave Grannan, CEO of vlingo. "Our users have spoken more than three million times to our application, including over one million times to compose text messages with the power of their voices. This is validation of our unique approach to voice recognition, which hinges on making mobile data and applications easier to find and use. It provides clear evidence of the growing need to simplify the mobile phone user experience."
Vlingo gives BlackBerry smartphone users the ability to power the most popular features by voice. They can simply press the side "convenience" key on their handset, which lets them speak commands into the phone. Vlingo 1.0 revolutionized the mobile voice space by voice-enabling applications that had been impossible with earlier technology, including the ability to send and reply to emails and text messages, search the Web, open applications, dial the phone, look up contacts and even send a "note to self," all by simply speaking to the phone. The new version of vlingo includes the following additions:
- Voice updates to Facebook & Twitter status updates
- Full keyboard support including SureType
- Read-back of the full text or email message that was spoken
- Tell A Friend about vlingo
- The ability to launch built-in programs:
- Address Book
- Alarm
- BrickBreaker
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Camera
- Maps
- Media
- MemoPad
- Messages
- Options
- Tasks
- Web browser
- The ability to launch third party programs:
- Google Maps
- Opera
- Viigo
Vlingo gives BlackBerry smartphone users control over mobile information and tasks with the power of their voice. With vlingo, users do not need to change how they speak or memorize a list of commands. They can say what they want, how they want, and vlingo captures the results - word for word. Offering the most accurate system on the market that gets even better as more users join the community, vlingo gives users the ability to freely mix typing and talking with no limits on what they can say.
Availability and Compatibility
Beginning today, vlingo 2.0 is available free-of-charge* for BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry 8800 series smartphones. For US & Canadian users, go to www.vlingo.com/v2 to download directly from your PC or BlackBerry smartphone. For UK beta users can also go to www.vlingo.com from your PC or BlackBerry smartphone to download.
More information about vlingo is available at http://www.vlingo.com.
About vlingo
Vlingo is a voice-powered user interface that unlocks access to mobile phone wireless data services. Vlingo allows users to speak or type into any vlingo-enabled text box and get accurate, easy and consistent access to all the information, entertainment and communication made possible through today's mobile applications. By giving consumers control of the mobile Internet with the power of their voices, vlingo provides a quantum leap in usability for mobile data services that are currently restricted by limited user interfaces. IDC has named vlingo one of the "Ten Emerging Mobile Players to Watch in 2008." The company secured its venture capital financing from Charles River Ventures, Sigma Partners and Yahoo! Inc. Founded in 2006, vlingo is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Why tap when you can talk? www.vlingo.com.
