Siri is the name for the speech recognition software introduced by Apple on their iPhone 4. In a blog post in November 2011, I asked How will Siri handle your domain name? This question may just have become more relevant for a number of reasons

• the growth of smartphone usage, a high percentage of which is on the iPhone4;
• the tighter integration of Siri across an expanding segment of the Apple range; and
• various 3rd party sites are being integrated into a range of Apple products (not just their mobile platforms). The 3rd party sites include Facebook and Twitter, as well as Yelp via new mapping software.

So, not only is the role of mobile becoming increasingly important, with implications for corporate websites and their satellite social accounts, but now we are seeing software that changes the way users interact with the devices.

The focus of my earlier post was on the pronunciation of just your web address. This is still relavent and needs to be considered. Now we anticipate the range of requirements for Siri’s speech recognition will grow to handle these additional situations:

• what is the address of [name]
• browse the website of [name]
• show me [name] on [Yelp or Twitter or Facebook]
• add a comment on [name]’s [Yelp or Facebook] page
• tweet a message to [name]

For now, the dominant software is Apple’s Siri, but all the competing mobile platform developers are striving to catch up to Apple. Some already have software in place. From all reports Siri is the benchmark. Perhaps that dominance is just as concerning for any business with a questionable web address or social media handle. Even if Siri can get your name right will any of the rest? If Siri can’t get it right, what chance do the others.

The risk to the business is Siri will take a user to an alternate (competing) website with a similar name.

The names most likely to cause speech recognition software to stumble are:

• non-dictionary words
• abbreviations
• deliberate misspelling (z for s as in “bratz”)
• SMS style contractions - 2u instead of toyou

If you have any doubts talk to a trusted web developer and definitely do some testing on your own or a borrowed iPhone.

Related articles

• How will Siri handle your domain name? (blog.midboh.com.au)
• How pronounceable are your digital marketing assets? (christopherspenn.com)