Siri, Apple's intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator, has become one of the most popular apps on the iOS after its integration with Apple's iPhone 4S in October of last year. Now, alternatives to Siri have been developed; Maluuba is one of those apps which may prove a tough competitor.

Maluuba has been launched as an application available on Google's Android Play Store, which can be downloaded on Android-powered smartphones. 

"The next generation of personal assistant apps to challenge Siri is here! Download Maluuba to easily stay organized and get things done on the go. Maluuba helps you schedule appointments, set reminders, search for local businesses and restaurants, check the weather, discover concerts and entertainment events happening, and much more!" says Google Play's Web site.

Like Siri, Maluuba allows users to set up meetings, alarms, and location-based reminders, and the app integrates with a user's Google Calendar account.

"Apple's goal is to create the user experience on their phone but we want to connect to as many APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) as possible," said Sam Pasupalak, co-founder of Maluuba. "In the future, the web won't be a mash of links but APIs."

Based in Waterloo, Canada, Maluuba received a $2 million investment from Samsung Ventures in February 2012. The investment from Samsung may mean that Maluuba could come pre-installed on some of the company's devices in the future. Pasupalak indicated that the developer is in talks with other Android OEMs, and a good chance exists that the app will eventually be pre-installed on other Android phones.

The mobile phone apps industry is full of Siri emulators like Vingo, Jeannie, Iris, Nina et al. With Maluuba entering the market as a competitor, competition is increasing. On the other hand, Apple will continue to enhance the features of Siri.

Time will tell if Maluuba will be welcomed by Android-powered smartphone users.