Cortana Heading to iOS and Android Devices
She's not just for Master Chief anymore, folks. Cortana, Microsoft's answer to Apple's Siri digital assistant, is coming as a standalone app to both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store soon after the launch of Windows 10 this Fall.
In case you're unfamiliar with this version of Cortana, she is powered by Microsoft's Bing search engine tech and can help you by integrating with your phone's contacts, messages, notes, reminders and contacts to help organize your life. For authenticity's sake, the voice of Cortana in the Halo games, Jen Taylor, is also the voice of Cortana on the personal assistant. Now, she's expanding her range beyond Windows Phones and over to iOS and Android devices.
Polygon reports that the release of Cortana on all platforms would fall in line with new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's recent pledge to bring Microsoft services to anyone who wants them, regardless of platform. This wouldn't be the first time that Microsoft has shared its wares with competitors, as Office for iOS launched last year on Apple devices and a new Outlook client is on the way as well.
While we love the idea of bringing Cortana on any device we want, we have to ask one simple question: will those with iOS or Android devices even bother downloading Cortana? Siri and Google Now work just fine without taking up space on a phone for a new app. However, we can't deny that Halo fans who prefer Android or iOS to Microsoft's phones will probably jump on board (we certainly will).
Windows 10 launches later this year, with the Cortana app expected to come soon after it for iOS and Android formats.