when this feature is touted as the breakout functional change between versions being in BETA mode is not even remotely an acceptable excuse for a complete loss of function. If this was true beta wear testing it would have been rolled out on the iPhone 4. The mis-fire launch of the 5 and then calling the flagship function a beta is not apple MO. it's completely shoddy work.
so, back to not just giving in to apple fanboy-dum,
It's not just a voice change, there is a massive loss of functionality. Repeated failures to answer simple requests where there was no failure before the voice change. The voice change is just one symptom of a larger problem.
So, if anyone hears of a fix or of any information coming out of Fort-Cupertino let us all know. I'll do the same,
cheers and have a great new year, (hopefully with repaired 'smart' phones)