Voice activation offers key to mobile engagement: new research

The study measured the data use of over a million subscribers across a European network in both urban and rural areas and serves as an indication of the potential voice activation programmes have to engage mobile users, observed Arieso CEO Michael Flanagan in an interview with Bloomberg.

"Voice is the ultimate human interface," he said, adding that voice recognition is prompting consumers to use their smartphones’ functions more often.

Siri as of yet is still in "beta" stage and has not been as readily embraced in Asia due to lack of multi-language support and an inability to process Asian accents. But if its popularity in Europe and the US is any indication, users are eager to start chatting with their smartphones.

"It may still be the novelty factor spurring heavy use but voice search and voice activation is definitely something to leverage in future," said Jeff Cheong, managing director and executive creative director of Tribal DDB Singapore, pointing out Apple's history of introducing game-changing methods of device interaction.

So far, Apple has only released an API (application programming interface) for Siri that allows developers to integrate her dictation function with its developer-only beta release of the iOS 5.1 operating system, a factor holding mobile developers back when it comes to fully leveraging Siri's abilities. Google is rumoured to be launching its own rival to Siri, Majel.

Beyond mobile interaction, voice activation could give other media platforms like radio a new lease on life, theorised Cheong. "An advertisement on the radio could potentially 'talk' to your mobile phone and remind you of promotions when you're near the store, provide more information or give special discounts."

Hackers that have cracked Siri's code to produce programmes like SiriProxy offers a glimpse of what developers can achieve with the full API. So far, hackers have used Siri Proxy to unlock cars, switch room lights on and off,  interact with apps, and even set their house thermostats.