On Wednesday, Internet search giant Google showed off an enhanced version of its voice-enabled search program as an app for the Apple iPhone and iPad; and also announced that tests were currently underway of a new service which will combine the company's Web-based email with its search engine.

Google's unveiling of the enhancements to its voice-based search technology for the Apple devices chiefly underscores the fact that the search giant's offering will directly compete with Apple's voice-enabled Siri personal assistant.

Likely to be available in the next few days, the new version of Google's search app for the iPhone and iPad will boast some similar capabilities to those offered by the Siri technology, as it will basically enable the users to speak into the devices and find information about almost everything --- from the weather to nearby movie showings.

Since the new Google app - just like Apple's Siri - will essentially narrate answers to search results in a human sounding voice, some analysts and technology observers are of the opinion that the new enhancements to Google's voice-based technology will probably reduce the dependence of the iPhone users on the Google search service.

Meanwhile, the currently-being tested new service will chiefly facilitate the users in accessing information - like flight schedules and shipping orders - and, according to Google Search SVP Amit Singhal, will be a truly universal search which will "have all the information that humanity has put on the Web and information that's your information."