HispanicBusiness

Siri, you are not alone. Google has introduced its Google Now service for iPhones and iPads, challenging Apple's speaking information diva on its home ground.

Siri, which has been a central marketing tool of Apple's mobile products, provides answers in response to users' natural language questions. Google Now has been doing the same for some nine months on the latest mobile devices powered by Google's Android operating system, and is now making the switch to Apple devices too.

Google Now implements what the company calls predictive search, meaning that it uses all the data that Google has accumulated about the user to provide them with the information they need before they even know they need it.

The best-used example is the service's ability to tell you when to leave for work, knowing what it does about your schedule, traffic conditions, transport timetables and the weather.

It presents its information on a variety of cards, which on Android can be placed on the home or lock screens, but which on Apple devices can be accessed by swiping up from the Google Search App.

The service can also answer natural-language spoken questions such as "Where can I get pizza?" by offering cards with relevant information, in this case a map and directions to nearby pizza restaurants.

The inclusion of Google Now on the Google Search App for iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, is the latest round in an increasingly bitter battle between the two tech giants, as some analysts believe the rival services could both morph into becoming the main user interface between individuals and their devices.

Google's Android operating system dominates the global market for smartphones with a 69-per-cent market share compared to 19-per-cent for the iPhone.