The invention discloses a system and method for speech-activated navigating or browsing via a speech control interface used in a speech-activated multifunctional communications system. In one embodiment, the invention provides an approach to extend speech-activated navigation by linking an output of an open vocabulary recognizer to an Internet search engine in order that a user may have more options to search information related to his spoken commands. In another embodiment, the invention provides a means to enable the user to orally navigate a database via a speech control interface wherein the selections and associated selection criteria are organized into a hierarchical view menu. In another embodiment, the invention provides an approach with high flexibility and accuracy to recognize the user's command using a new grammar structure and a matching score system.