Microsoft's Tellme subsidiary announced their first app for Windows Mobile, a downloadable program that lets users dictate text messages, dial phone numbers, or search the Internet by voice.

Microsoft's Tellme subsidiary announced their first app for Windows Mobile, a downloadable program that lets users dictate text messages, dial phone numbers, or search the Internet by voice.

The new app will be available for free in the upcoming Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft's app store for Windows Mobile 6.5 phones, and the company will also make it available for manufacturers and carriers to build into their devices. Microsoft didn't say whether it would be available for existing Windows Mobile 6.1 phones.

Tellme is best known for its automated voice service reached by dialing 1-800-555-TELL. By calling that number, you can get news tidbits, weather, movie showtimes, or even play Blackjack with a Sean Connery impersonator.

Since they were bought by Microsoft two years ago, Tellme turned its attention to developing smart phone apps, and released a BlackBerry app last year.

In a meeting with Appscout, Tellme executives said they were aiming to refine the app's interface in the future to let you perform entire tasks without looking at your phone. For instance, you could check e-mail, or check and reply to text messages without looking at or touching your phone. They're also working to integrate the Tellme software with the voice-command button on most Bluetooth headsets.

"Voice search" is a hot area in mobile phone apps right now, but the available applications come well short of totally voice-enabling your phone interface. Typically, apps like Yahoo's OneSearch with Voice require you to press a physical button, speak your search terms, and then use the phone's interface to navigate through results.

This post originally appeared on AppScout.