Can you teach Siri how to recognize the name of your app?

Question

It is possible to open an app using Siri just by saying the name of the app. If Siri doesn't recognize the name properly (for example if it's not an english word, she won't), you can prepend it with "Open 'app'" - and Siri will match app names slightly more liberally.

Here's the question: Is it possible to include a phonetic pronunciation with your own app so that Siri will understand it without using the "open"-keyword?

Kind of like you can define pronunciation for contact-names.

Answer 1

This is now possible in iOS 11 using the INAlternativeAppNames key in your Info.plist as described here: https://developer.apple.com/library/content/qa/qa1950/_index.html

<key>INAlternativeAppNames</key>
<array>
<dict>
    <key>INAlternativeAppName</key>
    <string>Unicorn Pay</string>
    <key>INAlternativeAppNamePronunciationHint</key>
    <string>you nee corn pay</string>
</dict>

Answer 2

Yes, add an address book entry with the name of the App. Give a phonetic nickname to the address book entry corresponding to the pronunciation of the app. Siri should then open it when you say "Open [app])

Answer 3

No you can't, as it is. Siri is based on a speech recognition engine called Nuance, they offer a very decent SDK for iOS and Android. Nuance mobile gives you a demo account, that expires every 30 days, and allows you to do a finite amount (5000 or so) of speech recognition transactions. If you get a paid account you can teach (add custom vocabulary words) words to Nuance, and handle production levels of speech recognition traffic.

Answer 4

NO Apple has not released any APIs for Siri, from iOS 6 in 2012 to iOS 9 in 2015.

In 2012, you can only create your own siri proxy, but then it will only work on the network where the proxy is placed.

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In 2016, Apple is allowing to interact with Siri in iOS 10 using SiriKit.