• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Cortana iOS Android

Cortana will be Available on iOS and Android Devices

May 26, 2015
POATE 2025

Kenya Strengthens Regional Tourism and Global Reach at POATE 2025

May 28, 2025
sodium-ion battery

Researchers Develop Sodium-Ion Battery That Charges to 80% in 6 Minutes

May 27, 2025
TV Gambling Ads

Regulator Fines Stations Using Religious Shows to Push Gambling

May 27, 2025
Connected Africa Summit 2025

Connected Africa 2025 Day 2: Focus on Digital Inclusion & Cybersecurity

May 27, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
whatsapp chatbots

WhatsApp iPad App Finally on the Horizon as Meta Teases Launch

May 27, 2025
Connected Africa Summit

ICTA Chair and CEO Push for Digital Unity at Connected Africa Summit

May 27, 2025
Kenya Safaricom share sale

Kenya Plans Mega Sale of Safaricom Shares to Raise Over a Billion Dollars

May 26, 2025
Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom lawsuit

Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and CA Sued in Data Rollover Lawsuit

May 26, 2025
Metered Internet bill

New Bill Wants to Meter and Monitor How You Use the Internet

May 26, 2025
veo 3

Google’s Veo 3 Is Blurring the Line Between Reality and AI

May 26, 2025
Apple-Glasses

Apple to Reportedly Launch Smart Glasses by 2026 to Rival Meta, Google

May 23, 2025
OpenAI

OpenAI Looks To Get Into Hardware Market After Acquiring Startup For $6.5B

May 23, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Cortana will be Available on iOS and Android Devices

Latiff Cherono by Latiff Cherono
May 26, 2015
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
264
0
Cortana iOS Android

Cortana running on an Android Phone.

Cortana iOS Android
Cortana running on an Android Phone.

At the end of April, Microsoft boldly stated their goal for the adoption of their next operating system: 1 Billion Devices to run Windows 10 by 2018. This lofty goal might seem over ambitious, especially when we look at the current state of the PC ecosystem where sales continue to decline. However, Microsoft is playing the one ace it has always held very close to its chest; releasing its services to competitors platforms. From Office on iOS and Android, to open sourcing its valuable ‘dot Net’ technology, Satya Nadella’s Microsoft has realized that size is meaningless if one loses relevancy. To that end, Microsoft today announced that Cortana, Redmond’s alternative to Siri and Google Now, will be available as an application on both iOS and Android devices.

First introduced in Windows Phone 8.1, Cortana aims to be a users digital assistant by collating data on the user’s device and actively providing  feedback that helps the user be more productive. For example, Cortana can recognize that an appointment is mentioned in a SMS, and prompt the users to add it to their schedule. Cortana can also tell where you work based on your driving patterns and thus provide live traffic updates every morning before you leave for work. A user can also interact with Cortana by asking her to search items, open applications, or even provide location based reminders.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI4tj1YZbiM&w=854&h=510]

With Windows 10, Microsoft expanded Cortana’s capabilities by integrating features that can help users be more productivity during their work day. Users can now tell Cortana to dictate an email, or even perform search data within a companies big data repository. As Cortana moves beyond search into interaction with all of a user’s software regardless of device (be it on a laptop or a mobile device), it is evident that Cortana must exist beyond Windows Ecosystem especially on Mobile. With 91% of the global PC market share running Windows, but less than 5% of the global smartphone market share, Microsoft has made the right move to offer Cortana on iOS and Android.

Cortana iOS Android
Cortana on Windows 10 PC.

How Will It Work

Cortana iOS Android
Phone Companion Apps for Windows 10

Windows 10 will have an inbuilt Phone Companion app will act as a guide to the different Microsoft apps that users will need to install to their smartphones and thus, be able to extend their Windows 10 experience. For example, if a user uses OneDrive as their cloud storage, the phone companion app will instruct the user to download the OneDrive app that pertains to their device (be it with Windows Phone, Android or iOS). These apps include Office, OneDrive, Skype, OneNote, Xbox and now Cortana.

Cortana iOS Android
Microsoft Apps on Android (including the soon to be released Cortana app).

“We’re gonna ensure that Windows 10 works great with whatever device you have” Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Operating Systems Group at Microsoft

This means that a user could work on Office document on their PC at work and when they get back home, they could ask Cortana to open the same document for a quick edit on their mobile phone. Though Microsoft hasn’t announced it yet, we could see Cortana be able to send text messages to another mobile device from the PC.

Cortana iOS Android
Windows Mobile devices users will not have to do anything as Cortana is fully supported on their devices.

These companion apps will be able available to Windows Insiders in June 2015.

Obstacles to Success

Cortana works best when it is localized, not only in terms of geographical point of interest data, but for language as well. Even though Cortana has been in public existence for just over a year, it is still in Beta for the US region and Alpha for several other regions. Microsoft will need to invest significant resources to quickly localize Cortana when Windows 10 launches. Otherwise, they risk alienating users who updated to Windows 10 yet find that they cannot access publicized features.

As both Apple and Google have their own digital assistants in Siri and Google Now (respectively), Microsoft has to ensure that Cortana is matches the features of the native client, and provides value add services that the native client cant. As the Cortana may not have the same access to the operating system that the native digital assistant adds, some features that exists in Cortana will not be available on iOS and Android.

It is only time that will tell if this strategy stems the decline in PC sales as well as boosts the sales of Microsoft’s mobile devices.

Tags: AndroidCortanaiOSMicrosoftWindows 10
SendShare146Tweet92
Latiff Cherono

Latiff Cherono

Ardent Windows Phone Enthusiast (Since Launch in Oct 2010) and huge Microsoftie (from Office 365, Surface to Visual Studio). Mechanical Engineer (Lean MFG, Six Sigma). If you ever have any questions on anything Microsoft related, reach out via Twitter.

Related Posts

Microsoft Recall

Signal Blocks Microsoft Recall Feature to Protect Private Chats

May 22, 2025
Google I/O 2025

Google I/O 2025 Highlights: Gemini, XR Glasses & Project Astra

May 21, 2025
Microsoft

Windows 10 and 11 May Updates Trigger Major System Failure

May 20, 2025
Google I/O 2025

Google I/O 2025: Android 16, Gemini AI, and the Future of Smart Devices

May 20, 2025
Apple Event

Apple Becomes First Trillion Dollar Brand in New Global Ranking

May 20, 2025
samsung one ui 8

Is Your Samsung Phone Too Old for One UI 8 Update?

May 17, 2025

Latest

POATE 2025

Kenya Strengthens Regional Tourism and Global Reach at POATE 2025

May 28, 2025
sodium-ion battery

Researchers Develop Sodium-Ion Battery That Charges to 80% in 6 Minutes

May 27, 2025
TV Gambling Ads

Regulator Fines Stations Using Religious Shows to Push Gambling

May 27, 2025
Connected Africa Summit 2025

Connected Africa 2025 Day 2: Focus on Digital Inclusion & Cybersecurity

May 27, 2025
whatsapp chatbots

WhatsApp iPad App Finally on the Horizon as Meta Teases Launch

May 27, 2025
Connected Africa Summit

ICTA Chair and CEO Push for Digital Unity at Connected Africa Summit

May 27, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Kenya Strengthens Regional Tourism and Global Reach at POATE 2025

May 28, 2025

Researchers Develop Sodium-Ion Battery That Charges to 80% in 6 Minutes

May 27, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

Introducing A Brainbox Quiz: Techweez’s Monthly Trivia Night!

5 Most Reliable Virtual Dollar Card Providers in Nigeria

More News

Kenya Plans Mega Sale of Safaricom Shares to Raise Over a Billion Dollars

Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and CA Sued in Data Rollover Lawsuit

New Bill Wants to Meter and Monitor How You Use the Internet

Google’s Veo 3 Is Blurring the Line Between Reality and AI

Apple to Reportedly Launch Smart Glasses by 2026 to Rival Meta, Google

OpenAI Looks To Get Into Hardware Market After Acquiring Startup For $6.5B

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.