Voice assistants can do a lot of things for you, from setting your alarms, to calling a particular contact, to searching the net. Within the smartphone, the virtual concierge really makes it convenient for you to get around the device. Now, Apple's voice assistant, Siri, has a new feature that is being tested. Adding to the roster of tasks that a virtual assistant can do is a feature that enables Siri to convert and send voicemail as text messages.
In line with the recent unveiling of Apple's new operating system for mobile, iOS 9, the voicemail transcription feature is developed and introduced for Siri. According to Business Insider UK, the development is poised to let voicemails ease out as a medium for message relay. As it is able to take a call for the user and transcribe it as a text message at the same time, users need not listen to their voicemails again.
The accuracy with which Siri transcribes the voicemails is still unknown. Apple has tested it by sending out information to development companies while Siri turns the spoken message into text. Siri has been upgraded for iOS 9. The voice assistant's new function is expected to be an official part of Siri next year.
For now, Siri is said to be functioning really well with the Apple Watch. Users of the smartwatch are able to dictate text messages to Siri. Other functions include launching apps and giving directions to the user.
Apple has given its voice assistant a significant part in its new mobile operating system and network service. The company has launched the Apple Sim, which allows users to switch among Apple's partner network providers in the U.S. and the U.K. The SIM is data-only and not separate from the phone. It comes pre-installed with WiFi+ and other apps.
The Apple SIM has come across as a huge strategic challenge to mobile carriers in the recent months following its release. Samsung appears to be planning to follow suit. These developments point to the SIM card and the voicemail possibly become obsolete in no time. Is this the end of the good old cellphone features that make a cellphone? The answer doesn't need to wait much longer, it appears.
