What if you could control most of the functions on your BlackBerry by voice, including web searches, voice notes, tasks, e-mail messages, text messages, phone calls, and more? Would you be interested? 

I’m sure I’m not the only one guilty of using my BlackBerry occasionally when driving; even dialing a number while using a hands-free piece takes your attention off the road for a moment. What to do? If you’d rather “say it than type it,” Vlingo has the answer.

Vlingo is software that allows you to talk to your BlackBerry and is available for the Pearl, Curve, and the 88xx series, and hopefully will be eventually be available the BlackBerry Bold.

I don't think I've had a more in-depth, or friendly, set-up for an application; it not only politely walked me through the entire process (including setting the convenience key to work), but also has a built-in tutorial.
 
Unlike voice command/dialing, which can be limiting, the technology behind Vlingo gives you an unlimited vocabulary. This new technology includes automatic adaptation, meaning it learns what you are most likely to say in each application. More specifically, a technology known as “HLMs,” or hierarchical language models, empowers Vlingo's sponge-like mind to potentially recognize millions and millions of words. Vlingo is constantly adapting the HLMS to application and user traits. It learns new words, patterns and frequency of word usages. It even recognizes, over time, pronunciation of words across the board. So it adapts to you –both the words you say and how you pronounce them. All of this is done automatically with no training sessions.

Using Vlingo is pretty easy after the initial set-up. You’re first required to assign one of your convenience keys. To use the program, press and hold the assigned side key, and a pop-up window will indicate that Vlingo is listening, waiting for your command. When you have completed your request, release the side key. When this happens, the pop-up window switches from "listening" to "thinking." When it is working, Vlingo is deciphering your request and composing its equivalent text, or opening the application you instructed it to. Vlingo uses text boxes to show its interpretation. In the boxes, you can edit the entries too, so if you changed your mind, you can edit your entry. (For me, this has been a surprisingly infrequent occurrence).

Vlingo can display alternative words, depending upon whether the word has similar-sounding words. The newest version sports automatic capitalization for proper nouns and for the first letter after punctuation. Punctuations are spoken like “question mark,” or “period.”

It seems like Vlingo aims to please and wants to make sure it's doing a good job. It will actually say your request back to you to confirm.

If you ever forget a voice command, however, no worries; all you need to know is always one click away. Vlingo’s main menu shows how far backwards Vlingo will bend over to make you feel comfortable using voice on your BlackBerry: What You Can Say, Help, Send Feedback and Options are the only four selections to choose from. Because of Vlingo’s hard work, I never felt confused or frustrated trying to get the software to work for me.

In a nutshell, Vlingo is a voice command application that, when assigned to one of your BlackBerry’s convenience keys, allows you to perform common tasks like sending texts and e-mails, making calls and searching the Web with the push of a button and a few spoken words.

Pros

• Great tutorials and set-up make it easy-to-use. 
• Works as advertised: Vlingo really will learn from you over time.
• Allows you to use your BlackBerry in ways you hadn’t before or at least faster than you had before.
• You can reply, reply all, and forward messages with Vlingo.
• Punctuation and automatic capitalization have now been added.
• Additional connection options (BIS, BES, Direct TCP) make things faster.
• It’s free!

 
Cons

• Mileage may vary; while Vlingo learned my voice very quickly, I have heard of others for whom it took longer. Don’t give up!
• Vlingo has a hard time with names. Sometimes it’s best to compose the message and add the contact by hand.
• You cannot compose an SMS or e-mail for multiple people.
• You can send messages via your default mail account only.
• No BlackBerry Messenger support.
• No SureType support.

 
Voice applications will always be looked at with a leery eye initially, but Vlingo’s powerful and easy-to-use software deserves a spot on every BlackBerry. The fact that something this good is free is icing on the cake.