Vlingo App Review: Hands-Free Voice Assistant for Safer Driving

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What Is Vlingo?

Vlingo is a voice-controlled assistant app designed to help drivers keep their eyes on the road while performing common smartphone functions. Originally developed in 2006 (predating Siri by 5 years), Vlingo was acquired by Nuance Communications in 2011 and integrated into their Dragon voice recognition technology.

The app offers two operational modes:

• Standard Mode: 13 voice commands including web search and social media
• InCar Beta Mode: Simplified interface focused on driving essentials:
  • Phone calls
  • Text messages
  • Navigation
  • Music control

Real-World Testing Experience

We evaluated Vlingo using a Samsung Galaxy Note (Android 2.3) mounted in a car dock, simulating typical driving conditions:

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Key Features Breakdown

1. Voice-Controlled Navigation

Vlingo integrates with your phone's GPS to provide turn-by-turn directions. In testing:

• Recognized full addresses when spoken clearly
• Successfully found points of interest ("Navigate to nearest Starbucks")
• Less effective with informal location descriptions

2. Hands-Free Messaging

The text messaging function proved to be Vlingo's most polished feature:

• Accurately transcribed short messages
• Allowed message review before sending
• Safe Reader function read incoming texts aloud
• Required screen interaction to select which texts to hear

3. Phone Call Management

Calling functionality worked well with some caveats:

• Recognized most contact names when pronounced clearly
• Struggled with contacts having multiple numbers
• No voice dialing by number ("Call 555-1234")

4. Music & Entertainment

Music control capabilities were limited:

• Could launch Android music player and Pandora
• Required screen interaction for playlist control
• Samsung devices offered better integration via Voice Talk

How Vlingo Compares to Other Voice Assistants

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Safety Considerations

While Vlingo aims to reduce distracted driving, our testing revealed:

• InCar mode minimizes but doesn't eliminate screen interaction
• Message composition requires significant cognitive attention
• Best used for quick, simple commands rather than complex tasks
• Large-screen phones (5"+ recommended) for any required interaction

Final Verdict: Who Should Use Vlingo?

Vlingo makes the most sense for:

• Older Android users (pre-2015 devices)
• Drivers needing basic voice commands
• Those wanting a simple, dedicated driving mode

For most users in 2023, built-in assistants (Google Assistant, Siri) or modern voice-to-text apps provide superior accuracy and functionality. However, Vlingo remains an interesting piece of mobile technology history that paved the way for today's voice assistants.