Earlier this year, Google released custom voice actions for Android users, which allowed them to select third party apps by simply starting with the “Ok Google” command. Yesterday, the search engine giant announced Google Now update that lets user’s send messages using Google Voice commands via Whatsapp and other messaging apps, including WeChat, Telegram, NextPlus and Viber.
Here is an example of Google now update feature:
For instance, if users want to send a message using Google Voice commands via WhatsApp they just need to say, “Ok Google, send a WhatsApp message to [Contact Name],” and they will get a prompt asking them to dictate their message. Alternatively, they can just say, “Ok Google, send a WeChat message to [Contact Name]: [Dictate your message].”
This latest step by Google to turn Google Now into your true personal assistant, and it’s a smart move. The search engine giant has been consistently enhancing Google Now by adding features to it at a faster rate than Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri.
If users want to use features of Google now update, they need to update both the Google app for Android and their individual messaging apps like Whatsapp and others. If either of them is outdated, they will only get a bunch of search results or an error message.
The Google Now update that let users to send messages using Google Voice commands via Whatsapp and other messaging apps is currently available in only English, but the search engine giant says that it will add support for more languages and more apps in the coming future.