Conversational search

Teragram has announced a new service that allows users to create, access and share personalized information through the Web, cell phone text message or IM chat. The company explains that MyGADs is a conversational system that lets its members "talk" to select applications--such as a calendar--either on a mobile device or online.

Users interact with the system by entering natural language queries into a chat window. The upgrade allows enterprise users to download a new BlackBerry application for MyGADs that installs the program directly on to their mobile device, eliminating the need to connect to a mobile Web browser.

The version includes a new online user interface, which consists of icons (widgets) that represent customizable GAD applications. Examples of available applications include a to-do list, calendar, calculator, blog hosting engine, Web page editor or notepad. Using these applications, MyGADs members can store and retrieve their own personal information, connect to outside applications, such as Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint, and search pre-loaded databases for localized weather, calculators/conversions, encyclopedia definitions, etc.