Vlingo Labs Beta arrives on Google Play Store (More competition for Siri)

In these trying days of searching for the perfect voice assistant application for Android — the one true Siri killer — we’ve come across quite a few apps that tried to get the job done, but fell short. One of the biggest contenders to date, Vlingo, has always been my personal favorite solution, as it handles most of the voice commands I need to get me through my daily drive to and from work.

A new version of the app, Vlingo Labs Beta has been released on Google Play, bringing a much more Siri-like interface and, unfortunately enough, slightly less functionality than I would have liked to see. Keep in mind though, the app is still in beta, so I’m sure tons of new features will be added in the coming weeks.

Check out the 411 below, then go pick up the app and try it for yourself.

Check out the latest design and functionality from Vlingo

Welcome! Vlingo Labs is sort of our version of a product “test kitchen” where we try out new ideas before we put them on the menu for everyone to enjoy. We’re looking for Beta testers who have Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) to provide feedback on new design and functionality.

For this version we have added an awesome (we think so at least) new design, and a more conversational, natural way to interact with your Assistant. You might also notice that we have virtually eliminated the need to ever touch your phone in order to complete a task. That’s a level of freedom that other assistants simply don’t provide.

Although we have some amazing additions, you will notice that this app is a little rougher around the edges and has a more limited feature set than our full Virtual Assistant. That’s done intentionally, as we’re really looking to get initial impressions from our early adopters. You can provide direct feedback from within the app, or you can offer thoughts via reviews. We will be listening, and plan to have frequent releases to quickly improve your experience. So please use the app as you normally would, have fun exploring, and let us know what you think.

This version supports:
* Text messaging
* Voice dialing
* Web search
* Wake Up Word (say “Hi Vlingo” to activate)
* English language only
If you’re looking for our full featured assistant, search for “Vlingo Virtual Assistant.” It is still available, still completely free, and supports a number of different languages.

Wanna check Vlingo Labs out? Of course you do. You know what to do. Here’s the link.

Download Vlingo Labs Beta