Google iPhone app stumped by British accents

Google's voice-recognition search technology for the iPhone has trouble with British accents, media reports say.

The free application for the popular Apple smartphone lets people search the internet just by speaking.

But the software has been plagued by reports that it can't deal with British accents.

Britain's Daily Telegraph tested the software by searching for "iPhone", but this could return results for "Einstein", "sex" or "kitchen sink".

Similar problems are reported on the application's website, AFP said.

"Awesome job google," one commenter wrote. "Only problem is every time I say the word 'fish' it registers as 'sex'."

Accents from different parts of Britain brought back different results after voice-searching for 'iPhone', the Daily Telegraph reported.

A search by a Yorkshireman brought back results for "bonfire", a Kent accent brought back "my sister", and a Surrey accent returned "MySpace".

Welsh accents fared the worst, returning "gorillas" and "kitchen sink", while a Scotsman was given results for "sex".

The website for the Google voice software warns the application is currently only available in US English, though AFP reported the website also has a link to videos showing Irish, British and Chinese accents using the software successfully.

- © Fairfax NZ News