Google Inc is bringing its Google Now technology to the iPhone, where it will compete head-on with Apple Inc’s Siri to serve as the primary service that smartphone users rely on to get everything from weather updates to traffic forecasts.<\/p>\n
Google Now, which made its debut last year on mobile devices powered by Google’s Android operating system, will be available as a feature in the new version of the Google Search app for iPhones and iPads starting on Monday.<\/p>\n
Personal assistant technology such as Apple’s Siri, Google Now and products created by various start-up companies aspire to play what could become a critical role on smartphones by helping users with daily chores such as looking up information on the Web, handling calendar appointments and managing travel plans.<\/p>\n
Some analysts believe Apple’s Siri, which comes pre-loaded on iPhones and iPads, represents a growing threat to Google, the world’s No. 1 search engine. The information that Siri provides on common topics such as sports scores and nearby restaurants reduces the need to visit Google’s search engine, the analysts say.<\/p>\n
Johanna Wright, Google’s vice president of Search and Assist for Mobile, described Google Now as the next phase in the evolution of search, in which answers are served up without a user needing to type in a query.<\/p>\n
The technology taps into Google’s various online services, from Web search to personal Gmail email and Google Calendar entries, to deliver relevant information throughout the day in pop-up windows that Google refers to as “cards.” By accessing an email with a flight itinerary, for example, Google Now can automatically remind a traveler about an upcoming trip and suggest the best time to leave for the airport based on current traffic conditions.<\/p>\n
Unlike the Android version of Google Now, in which users can swipe the phone’s homescreen to quickly access the pop-up cards, the version for Apple’s iOS will only display these cards when a user has opened the Google Search app.<\/p>\n
The smartphone has emerged as a key battleground between Google and Apple as consumers increasingly access the Web with mobile devices instead of personal computers.<\/p>\n
In September, Apple replaced the Google Maps app that once came pre-loaded on iPhones with a new maps app that Apple created in-house. The Apple maps service contained embarrassing errors, drawing fierce criticism from consumers and reviewers and forcing Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook to offer a public apology.<\/p>\n
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