Microsoft’s (MSFT) Ziggy Goes Toe to Toe With Apple’s (AAPL) Siri

With Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) Siri becoming such a success since its launch, it was only a matter of time before Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), and Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) -- well maybe not RIM -- all came out with their own voice-assistant software.

While Google already had its own voice software out before Apple (although the engineers at Google are already working on a more advanced version), Microsoft is now nestling up to a promising new potential Siri rival for its newest Windows Phone operating system. The software: "Ask Ziggy."

Lance Whitney, a writer for CNET News, reviewed Ziggy and Siri in a head-on battle royale.

• Basic functions are very similar: Ziggy can dial users a contact or a specific number and send out e-mails or texts. Directions, weather, etc also performed similarly in the two.
  
• Calculations were announced to Ziggy users, whereas a Siri user would only have the answer displayed on screen.
  
• In one case (when asked for an antonym for "fatuous"), Ziggy returned several responses instead of Siri's one answer.
  
• If Ziggy couldn't give users an answer, they would be directed to the web, similar to Siri.
  
• Ziggy users have the option to change between a male and female voice, something Siri does not yet have.

Ziggy’s developer, Shai Leib, continues to improve the software and said he cannot wait till his 1.3 version is approved for distribution.

The software is offered through Microsoft’s MarketPlace for free to users and has an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5.

Video of Mr. Whitney’s test:

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• NVIDIA to acquire Hugging Face for $12.93 billion
• Estée Lauder Companies names new brand leadership after retirement
• CN sets monthly record moving 2.50 MMT of grain in August