Samsung Officially Confirms Blocking Leaked S-Voice App, Says It’s a Test Version

The S-Voice saga continues with a new episode. This time it’s Samsung that comes forward with an official statement admitting it has blocked leaked S-Voice app due to the fact that this was just a “test version.”

S-Voice is part of Galaxy S III’s software and has been leaked last weekend, along with the first official Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM, which is supposed to run on Samsung’s Android flagship smartphone. However, Samsung claims that the Galaxy S III ROM leaked several days ago contains an earlier build of S-Voice app and not the final version. The folks at The Verge have reached out to Samsung for an explanation and the South Korean company issued the following reply:

 “An initial test version of S Voice which was found online has been blocked as Samsung Electronics does not want consumers to judge the quality of the voice feature based on a test version. When the product is launched, users of GALAXY S III will be able to fully experience S Voice.”

As you may notice, Samsung does not say anything regarding the compatibility of the S-Voice app with other Android devices, so until Galaxy S III goes live we won’t have any official statements. Although S-Voice access to Samsung and Vlingo servers was limited to Galaxy S III devices, the Android community found a way to trick these servers into thinking that any non-Galaxy S III smartphone is in fact a Samsung Galaxy S III. This means that most Android phones can take advantage of S-Voice, though the applications can only be installed on devices powered by Ice Cream Sandwich platform.

Still, until Samsung Galaxy S III hits shelves, most users who installed the leaked S-Voice won’t be able to tell if the personal assistant application is working as intended, or it’s just an early version.

Posted in: Mobile Phone, Preview, Software