7. A method for processing a voice command received by a portable electronic device using computing equipment that may communicate with the portable electronic device over a communications path, the method comprising: at the computing equipment, receiving the voice command and contextual information that is associated with an operational state of the portable electronic device over the communications path.
7. A method for processing a voice command received by a portable electronic device using computing equipment that may communicate with the portable electronic device over a communications path, the method comprising: at the computing equipment, receiving the voice command and contextual information that is associated with an operational state of the portable electronic device over the communications path. 14. The method defined in claim 7 wherein the portable electronic device has a location sensor that is used to determine the location of the portable electronic device, wherein the voice command is associated with a request from a user to perform a search for retail establishments that are located within a given distance of the location of the device, and wherein the contextual information comprises the location of the device, the method further comprising: at the computing equipment, performing the search for retail establishments using the location of the device; and generating a list of retail establishments that are located within the given distance of the location of the device.