The
touch-sensitive screen might be the primary way you interact with your
phone and order it to do things. But it’s not the only way. Windows
Phone also comes with a nifty speech-recognition feature that lets you
tell your phone what to do. Speech, as the feature is known, isn’t well
advertised—it’s hidden behind the Start button. But it can come in
handy when your hands are full or you can’t afford to look down at the
screen for long periods (like when you’re driving). The speech feature
also works with Bluetooth headsets.
| To do this | Say this |
|---|
| Dial a contact | “Call <contact name>” or “Call <contact name> <phone type>” (for example, “Call Dad mobile”) |
| Dial a number | “Call <phone number>” or “Dial <phone number>” |
| Search the Web | “Find <search term>” or “Search for <search term>” |
| Open an application | “Open <app>” or “Start <app>” (works for Maps, Music + Videos, and others) |
Tip:
You can use speech
recognition even when your phone is locked. Tap Settings > Speech,
and then check Use Speech When The Phone Is Locked.
1. Use Speech
Press and hold the Start button on your phone.
When
the Speech window appears, give your phone a command to dial a contact
or number, open an app, or search the Web. (You have to tap Speak the
first time you use it.)
When you finish talking, tap Go or pause silently for a moment.
Tip:
You can also cancel the request by tapping anywhere outside the Speech dialog box.
Tip:
If you’re in a noisy place, it might help to tap Go when you’re done giving a command to the phone.
