Windows Phone 7 gets voice navigation app 'Ask Ziggy' - video

Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 has been given a voice navigation app called Ask Ziggy.

The free application enables users to operate their handsets through vocal commands, in a similar manner to the iPhone 4S's Siri.

Shai Leib developed the programme, which also allows users to perform web searches and update their Facebook statuses through dictation. Ask Ziggy directs users to the Bing search engine should it fail to correctly carry out a request.

"Ask Ziggy uses speech recognition to translate human speech into transcribed text, which is displayed in a speech bubble. The transcribed text is analysed for patterns to detect commands or general queries," Leib told WP Central.

"Commands are interpreted and routed to routine phone tasks such as emailing, texting, calling, social network updates, and getting directions."

Apple launched the iPhone 4S with Siri included as a pre-install back in October. Numerous imitation applications have since been released through the Android Market and other mobile storefronts.

> Windows Phone 7 marketplace surpasses 50,000 apps

Watch a video demonstration of Ask Ziggy below: