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Google expands Voice Search with new actions

Google on Thursday introduced a tool for easily sending links from its Chrome browser on a PC to an Android phone, and added 12 more voice-activated actions to the Voice Search tool in Android 2.2.

The company unveiled the new software at an event at its San Francisco offices. The new tools take advantage of cloud computing, which dramatically expands the computing power of mobile phones with the help of faster and more responsive wireless networks, Google said.

The Chrome to Phone extension to Google's browser adds a phone icon to the browser and uses an Android application. Users can click on that icon to send a URL, Google Map result or other content from the browser to an Android phone. Third parties are also working on similar plug-ins for other browsers, including Firefox, Google said. Chrome to Phone is only for Android 2.2.

With the extensions to Voice Search, users will be able to send SMS (Short Message Service) messages and e-mail addresses to their contacts by clicking a button, speaking a command and the recipient's name, and speaking the message. Words that the software is not sure of appear in bold blue and can be clicked on to view alternate choices. Other new extensions to Voice Search include the ability to verbally ask for Google Maps directions, request a URL, or send a note to yourself via a designated e-mail address.

The new capabilities currently are available only for U.S. English. Android 2.2 is out now for the Motorola Droid 2 and Google's Nexus One handset, and is being rolled out to the HTC Evo 4G and original Droid. The company detailed the new Voice Search actions in a blog post.