September 15, 2008 11:05 AM PDT

Tellme tries to speak to sports nuts

by Ina Fried
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In the latest example of its voice-to-screen search service, Tellme users will be able to get sports scores displayed by saying "sports" and their favorite team.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Yelling "Does anyone know the Cowboys score?" into a crowd can yield mixed results. But, starting Monday, telling your phone the same thing could produce a much more dependable answer.

Microsoft's Tellme unit is announcing an expansion of its "voice-to-screen" search service. By saying "sports" and the name of one's favorite team, users of the Tellme app can now get a screen with details on a team's current or upcoming game.

Among the sports covered are professional baseball, football, hockey, men's and women's basketball, and soccer. College sports include men's and women's hoops, soccer, and, perhaps my favorite, hockey.

The speak-for-sports-scores-feature, like the other voice-to-screen services only work on the BlackBerry, for now. Microsoft announced the service back in April and said it hoped to bring it to other phones at some point.

I checked back in Monday to get an update. A company representative said there is "active development" for Windows Mobile and said the company is also exploring whether to do a version for the iPhone.

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.
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by benjaminstraight September 15, 2008 11:23 AM PDT
Cool.
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by CTO_Dude September 15, 2008 12:08 PM PDT
What? All the Linux people are silent because Microsoft released something for Blackberry before Windows Mobile?!?!?! Usually the Microsoft-haters are out in force whenever an article is posted here that even says the word "Microsoft". Perhaps there's some Penguin-Love-Hug-Fest going today in Omaha, NE or something. Amazing! I'm shocked, puzzled and awestruck. Go Microsoft... we love you... even the Linux folks! (that'll get em going!)
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About Beyond Binary

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft.


Beyond Binary is a look at how technology is changing our lives and the people behind all that life-changing stuff, with an extra emphasis on that which emanates from Redmond, Wash.

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