Vlingo has adapted its technology and functionality to bring its Virtual Assistant to all Galaxy S II devices worldwide.

With Samsung Voice Commander, many of Vlingo’s current features will be available to Galaxy S II owners, like social updates, messaging, email, handsfree communication via InCar, voice dialing and search.

Additionally, Vlingo created new features around voice memos and music search unique to the Samsung Galaxy S II device.  Users can also initiate commands simply by double-tapping the home screen button, making it easier than ever to get things done while on the go.

Check out the on-stage demonstration from the event last night in the video clip below.

For carriers and OEMs interested in partnering with Vlingo go to http://www.vlingo.com/partners.

Vlingo will also be at Mobile World Congress on February 14 – 17, 2011.  Click here to set up an in-person briefing.

Let us know down in the comments what you think about this groundbreaking new partnership between Samsung and Vlingo.  You can also view more Vlingo demos on our website.

But today we’re going to take a second to offer up some pointers for getting the most out of our newest feature on Android, the Vlingo ActionBar.   The new ActionBar allows users to access all of the functionality available on the Vlingo Virtual Assistant by typing commands instead of speaking.  This enables you to use Vlingo even when it isn’t convenient to talk to you phone.  Like when you’re at a noisy restaurant or a quiet coffee shop.

As you all know by now, it’s tough to explain what we’re all about.  So we built a little video to show you a few cool demos related to the ActionBar.

Android Users – We’d love to hear what you think.  Are you liking the new ActionBar?  You find it easy to use and helpful when you’re on the go?  Any changes you’d like to see?

Please share your feedback with us in the comment section.  Thanks so much!

Android Users,

Since launching our virtual assistant on Android way back in May, we have had some pretty exciting updates. In August, we made Vlingo totally free to download on Android Market. In October, we introduced the InCar feature, the first and only completely hands free way to message, call and get directions when you’re on the go. Now we have a holiday treat that may be our biggest update yet: codenamed Oyster.

As much as I’d like to spill the details, I’m not at liberty to say any more. But if you want the scoop as soon as it’s available you can:

We’re so excited we had to let you in on our secret. As much as we could, at least.

Talk to everyone very soon!

Cheers,

Team Vlingo

We’re very happy to report that a new Vlingo for iPhone release is now LIVE in the App Store.  The latest version of iOS introduced a few quirks that we’ve been able to fix.  The update released today includes:

** Please Note: You must be running iOS 4.1 in order to download the Vlingo update**

Thanks to all who reached out via Twitter and Facebook the last couple months, alerting us of any issues you encountered.  We appreciate the feedback, and just wanted to let you know that we were listening.  The app should be all shined up for your speaking pleasure.  Enjoy!

Cheers,

The Vlingo Team

Calling on International Beta Testers!

We know that many of you have been asking for new languages – well the time has come!  We are making a new beta on Vlingo for BlackBerry for French, German, Italian and Spanish. Very exciting, but we need your help to make sure we launch the best possible product.

What We Need?

• People who are native French, German, Italian and Spanish speakers
• It’s okay if you were born somewhere else, or if you live somewhere else now as long as you’re fluent

How You Can Help?

• Visit the AppWorld link below from your mobile device to download the beta

Download the Beta at AppWorld

• After that, just use Vlingo…
  • By using text, email, web search, social updates and more you help Vlingo create more accurate voice-to-text applications
  • By using SafeReader, you help us read messages naturally in your native language

What’s In It For You?

• FREE usage of our paid features for the duration of the beta
• Eternal appreciation from your buddies at Vlingo
• Tell your friends and earn their thanks for helping bring Vlingo to your language

Please Read!

• SafeReader plays new messages and calendar event reminders as they arrive.
• To stop playing the current message, press the red END key.
• To stop playing all messages say, “Stop SafeReader.”
• To view more options go to Menu->Options

For the BETA: SafeReader will temporarily collect message and event reminders to help us tune our system.   If you do not want this data collected please turn off the feature and do not use it.

Thanks in advance for any help you can spare.  We look forward to bringing awesome new languages to our BlackBerry application!

Cheers,
The Vlingo Team

As of September 2010, 30 states and the District of Columbia have banned text messaging for all drivers—including Massachusetts where a ban on TWD goes into effect today—and an additional eight states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers. However, even with laws in place, drivers are still texting while driving (TWD).  Take a look at some findings from our report.

The study found that while more state laws exist today to ban texting while driving, 35% of mobile phone users continue to text behind the wheel. The study also found that young adults aged 20 to 29 years old had the highest percentage (62%) of offenders admitting to texting while driving.  They ranked higher than teenagers aged 16-19 years old (53%), while 50-59 year olds ranked only 17%.  The worst offenders came from Idaho (45% admitting to texting while driving), Kentucky (44%), and Missouri (43%), while New Mexico and Alabama had the next best records with only 22% and 23%, respectively.

The study found that drivers know about safety issues surrounding distracted driving, are interested in curving those habits and are open to technologies that could help them drive safely.  Highlights of the data include:

• 91% of drivers feel that they are more likely to get into an accident while reading or typing a text message.
• 90% feel that reading or typing a text message is just as unsafe as not wearing a seatbelt.
• 44% have been passengers in a vehicle where the driver was reading or typing a text message and 76% of those passengers felt unsafe.
• 80% are trying to limit the frequency in which they read or type text messages while driving.
• When asked if drivers would feel safer if they had the ability to speak text messages into their phones without taking their eyes off the road, 67% said yes, 22% said maybe, while 11% said no.

We asked Vlingo’s president & CEO to comment on the findings:

“We’ve conducted this survey three years in a row and each year despite the growing awareness of distracted driving, people continue to endanger themselves and their passengers by typing and reading messages behind the wheel.” said Dave Grannan, president and CEO of Vlingo. “It is clear from our survey and a recent report published  by the Highway Loss Data Institute; Texting Laws and Collision Claim Frequencies, that banning texting while driving does not automatically make roads safer; we’re also going to need a technology solution, which is where Vlingo is focused.”

“It’s clear that consumers are still tempted to reach for their cell phone when text messages come through while they are driving,” continued Grannan.  “The good news is today’s technology has advanced to the point where those incoming messages can be automatically read out loud when they arrive and drivers can simply speak to respond to urgent messages while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road—and Vlingo will be making this technology available in the next few weeks for free for certain mobile phones. “

Back again for the second installment of our tutorial blog series covering the most useful voice commands.  If you missed the first post, check it out for a helpful Android voice command list featuring local search and reviews.

Today we have a short video that shows you how you can easily share Vlingo with your friends.  There’s a new feature that makes it easier than ever to pass on the good word to any of your Android voice contacts if you’re digging what Vlingo’s laying down.  Check out the demo below…

What do you think?  Will you share Vlingo with your friends?

It’s official!  Vlingo’s iPhone Voice-to-Text Application upgrade for iOS4 is live on the iTunes App Store! Cue the angelic choral singers!!

What does this mean for our iPhone users?

• Direct Voice SMS – No more annoying paste step(!!)
• Critical bug fixes that improve performance on iOS4

If you have already paid for Vlingo’s premium features, you can upgrade for free.  If you’re still using the lite version, there’s never been a better time to upgrade.

Click Here to Download

Thanks to everyone for all the interest you’ve shown on Twitter, Facebook and Vlingo.com.  Hope this makes it a little easier to stay connected to the people and businesses that are most important to you.

Cheers,

TJ Leonard

Bearer of Good News

We also reached out to Android Central to get their objective view.

Well the results are in, and we’re proud to say that Vlingo has pulled a clean sweep!  We believe our Android voice recognition application stacks up favorably against anyone, but we are thrilled that our customers agree.  After all, it’s not our opinion that really counts.  Here are some highlights…

Pepsi Challenge Results – Vlingo in a Unanimous Decision

We asked myTouch 3G users who tried Vlingo to rate both the native functionality, and what Vlingo brought to the table.  Using a scale of 1 (Very Bad) to 5 (Excellent), we calculated the average score across 9 categories – and Vlingo beat the Genius Button in all 9 categories (Chart below).

Additionally, we asked the simple question, “Which performs better?” As you can see, customers preferred Vlingo by a wide margin.

Android Central Analysis – “Vlingo Wins the Showdown”

We provide the folks over at Android Central with a myTouch 3G Slide loaded with a copy of Vlingo and asked them to conduct their own investigation. They evaluated 10 features and functions, although slightly different than ours, either giving out 0 (poor), 0,5 (average), or 1 (strong) points for each .  And once again Vlingo comes out on top.  Here’s a quick summary of scores:

They included a detailed evaluation and a video showing the unscripted test and results on their blog here:

http://www.androidcentral.com/voice-control-app-showdown-vlingo-vs-genius-button

Whether you have the myTouch 3G Slide, or another Android device, Vlingo continues to prove that it belongs at the top of the class.  The best part?  You don’t even have to take our word for it.

TJ Leonard

Director, Product Marketing