Microsoft’s TellMe voice recognition system brought hands-free control to Windows Phone 7, offering a range of voice commands for basic phone operations. While the concept showed promise, the implementation revealed both impressive features and significant limitations that affected its practical use.

Getting Started with TellMe

Activating TellMe is refreshingly simple - just hold down the Windows logo button for a few seconds. The system supports essential voice commands:

  • “Call [contact name]”
  • “Call [phone number]”
  • “Redial”
  • “Text [contact name]”
  • “Call voicemail”
  • “Open [application]” or “Start [application]”
  • “Find [search term]” or “Search for [search term]”

Key Features

Text Message Handling

TellMe offers useful text message features that enhance hands-free operation:

  • Announces and reads incoming text messages
  • Configurable in Settings under Speech options
  • Supports constant activation or Bluetooth-only operation
  • Provides hands-free message management

Voice Recognition Performance

Despite its promising features, TellMe’s voice recognition capabilities fall short of expectations:

  • Poor accuracy, especially for text message composition
  • Often requires 10-20 attempts for successful recognition
  • Learning curve as the system adapts to user interactions
  • Significant impact on practical utility

Limitations and Challenges

Developer Integration

TellMe’s integration capabilities for third-party developers are limited:

  • Can only launch applications using voice commands
  • No support for speech components within applications
  • Breaks hands-free experience after app launch
  • Lacks email composition and reading capabilities

Technical Considerations

The system’s limitations are surprising given Microsoft’s experience with speech recognition:

  • Windows 7 demonstrated more sophisticated speech recognition
  • Current limitations likely stem from implementation choices
  • Basic functionality is solid but needs refinement
  • Core phone feature integration is well-implemented

Comparison with Competitors

When compared to Apple’s Siri, TellMe shows a different approach:

  • More focused on accessibility than conversational interaction
  • Functions as a practical tool rather than a virtual assistant
  • Lacks personality-driven responses
  • More suitable for basic phone operations

Future Outlook

TellMe shows promise as a foundation for future voice recognition features:

  • Solid basic functionality
  • Well-implemented core phone integration
  • Potential for improved recognition accuracy
  • Room for expanded developer capabilities

Conclusion

TellMe represents a solid first step in Windows Phone voice recognition, but needs significant development to reach its full potential. While basic functionality is impressive, poor recognition accuracy and limited third-party integration impact its practical utility. The system is adequate for basic voice commands but falls short for users seeking comprehensive voice control.

Microsoft appears to be on the right track with TellMe, but improvements in recognition accuracy and feature integration are needed to make it competitive in the mobile market. For now, it serves as a functional but limited voice control solution for Windows Phone 7 users.