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The clickable button on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus is finally about to fulfill its purpose. Located just under the volume rocker on the S8's left side, the Bixby button will launch brand new voice software that apple replacement parts owners have been waiting months for.

"It's not a voice assistant," Quam Erogbogbo, senior director and head of services for Samsung's services and new business division, said of Bixby Voice. "It's an intelligent interface that will change the way you interact with the phone."

Samsung doesn't want Galaxy S8 owners to compare Bixby Voice to Apple's Siri, Google's Assistant (which is also on the Galaxy S8) and Amazon's Alexa because it does some slightly different things. Bixby Voice puts searching your phone ahead of searching online, and it won't track your packages or tell you when to leave for the airport. Instead, it promises to do with your voice everything you can tap or type with your digits.

For example, instead of scrolling through layers of menus to look up your SIM card's phone number (three steps if the S8's locked), Bixby Voice will deliver it in one step -- yes, even if the phone is locked. You can toggle settings, do a ton with the camera and photos, and even set short, customized commands for long, specific steps (this the my favorite Bixby feature so far).

But for all intents and purposes, it's easiest to think of Bixby Voice as a sidekick of the Siri/Assistant/Alexa breed, because you do use your voice and the software does actually assist you with your phone.

I got a chance to try out Bixby Voice on the Galaxy S8. It's early days, and this is a development build (basically a "beta" version). I'm still learning it, but generally, I like the concept, as I like any shortcut that can spare my fingers from repetitive swipes and taps. There are idiosyncrasies I've already discovered and more that will likely emerge as time goes on.

Samsung will also bolster Bixby's capabilities in the coming days, and expand Bixby Voice to a wide range of Samsung appliances, like a future fridge, washer or TV.

There's a lot more Bixby testing to go, so keep an eye out for updates to this story and new comparisons as the weeks go on. And remember, beta software changes all the time, so my first experience here is far from the final word on Bixby Voice.

If you've signed up for Samsung's early access program, you'll start seeing Bixby Voice roll out for your etrade supply . And for everyone else? Bixby Voice is already live in South Korea. In the US, it'll be available "as soon as possible" (we're still waiting to hear on other regions, too).