A rant by Mordy Gilden.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably used Google Maps on your desktop browser for something at least once in your life. Google Maps is arguably the most popular mapping and directions plotting service there is, effectively stealing that crown from MapQuest ages ago.

So, its no surprise that the most popular server-based mapping and routing application on mobile phones is Google Maps Mobile (GMM). GMM offers a few features that don’t exist on the desktop based version, including support for GPS location if your phone has it, or localized search based on tower-triangulation (if your phone does not have or give you access to a GPS chip). It will even locate the addresses of contacts from your phonebook on some handsets.

Now, Google has announced voice recognition technology, based on the same technology as GOOG-411. Currently being tested on certain Blackberry handsets, the concept here is that your phone will record the voice clip, send it to Google’s servers who will decipher it, and send back the relevant information to your handset. Pretty nifty stuff, in fact nifty enough that many bloggers including Engadget, MobileCrunch, Boy Genius Report, and many others have rushed in to share this ground-breaking information with the rest of the Mobile World.

In fact, to quote the BGR:

“For the most recent feature addition, Google has decided to implement a bit of voice recognition. Sweet!”

Now, here’s where I’m confused. Did everyone miss Microsoft’s announcement to do this almost a year ago with Windows Live Search?

Windows Live has been offering this service for many of its compatible handsets, which include a wide range of devices including Blackberrys.
I currently use it on my Windows Mobile device so much that I now consider the feature to be indispensable (especially when on the road).

So, this begs the question:
How come nobody talks about this stuff until Google does it?!

I see this as a great move on GMM’s part, and I share the enthusiasm as the aforementioned bloggers. However, my feelings towards it are not “Sweet!”, but rather “Finally! What took you guys so long?“. You don’t normally see Microsoft beating Google to the punch at these sort of things.

I have to admit, Google Maps seems to have fallen behind on features- Windows Live offers real time turn-by-turn routing on GPS enabled devices which GMM still does not do, not to mention some cute features like finding the cheapest gas, movie times and more based on your current location. Google still doesn’t do all of that.

Basically, Google Maps broke new grounds and set standards for desktop map utilities, but as far as mobile apps go, Windows Live far exceeds them in features and usability… once again, not something you’d expect from Microsoft. But there it is.

I am at least consoled by the fact that many of the loyal Engadget readers commented that they’ve already been doing this with Windows Live over the past year. Still, it makes me wonder how many people are only interested in a concept if Google is behind it… let’s see how well Android plays out against Linux Mobile.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 3:38 pm and is filed under GPS, Blackberry Talk, Windows Talk, Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.