Google Rolls Out Custom Voice Actions, Third-Party App Support For 'OK Google'

Google is all about teaming up with third-party partners to improve its core services. We saw it earlier this week when Google added over 70 new apps to Google Now, including Spotify and Feedly, and now Google's voice actions is learning to play with others as the first set of partners for custom commands arrive on Android.

As explained the Android Developers' Google+ page, this new feature will allow users to say things like, "OK Google, listen to NPR" or "OK Google, show attractions near me on TripAdvisor." Rather than being directed to NPR's or TripAdvisor's respective websites, these commands now open the accompanying apps (assuming you have them installed) and perform the requested action.


"Google Voice Actions let users quickly complete tasks in your app using voice commands. It's another way to drive usage of your app with Google. Users' voice and text action requests can now lead directly to your Android app, so they can get to your native mobile experiences quickly and easily," Google explains.

Only select apps and commands are currently supported, including these:

• Flixster: "Show me Inception on Flixster."
• Instacart: "Show instacart availability."
• Lincoln: "Start my Lincoln MKZ."
• NPR One: "Listen to NPR."
• Realtor.com: "Show rentals near me on Realtor."
• Shazam: "Shazam this song."
• TripAdvisor: "Show attractions near me on TripAdvisor."
• Trulia: "Show homes for sale in Boston on Trulia."
• TuneIn Radio: "Open TuneIn in car mode."
• Walmart: "Scan my receipt on Walmart."
• Wink: "Activate home mode on Wink."
• Zillow: "Show me open houses nearby on Zillow.

Google's currently piloting additional custom voice actions and will open it up more widely in the future, the company said.