Microsoft Considering Expanding Cortana Virtual Assistant to iOS and Android - MacRumors
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Microsoft Considering Expanding Cortana Virtual Assistant to iOS and Android

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Microsoft earlier this year introduced Cortana, an intelligent virtual assistant to compete with iOS' Siri and Android's Google Now. Cortana was launched as a Windows Phone 8.1 feature, but a new report from Search Engine Land suggests Microsoft may expand the service to iOS and Android.

cortana
Speaking at the SMX Advanced conference in Seattle yesterday, Windows Phone Group Program Manager Marcus Ash said the company wants Cortana to be "pervasive" both geographically and among mobile platforms.

We want to scale Cortana internationally and across devices. The Android/iOS question is interesting. We’re asking, would Cortana be as effective if she didn’t have access to the details on your phone? We’re still trying to get Cortana adopted on Windows Phone and figure out what it wants to become there. But we’re actively talking about this.

I think it’s natural to think that an assistant that only runs on one device … the idea that she will be very pervasive is important to us.

Cortana is powered by Microsoft's Bing search engine and Tellme's natural language processing and speech-recognition technology Microsoft acquired in 2009. The assistant is launching first on Windows Phone 8.1 and the Xbox One game console. It is named after the artificial intelligence in Microsoft's popular Halo game series and has a female voice powered by actress Jen Taylor, who also provides the voiceovers for the video game.

Top Rated Comments

W
WhoDaKat
160 months ago
Without OS integration, it would be worthless. About the only thing it could do is a web search.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iCore24 Avatar
iCore24
160 months ago
Microsoft Engineers: We built this "Awesome" voice assistant!

Microsoft CEO: Thats great! We spent a lot of hard work and money on it.

Microsoft Engineers: Yea, but too bad only dozens of people get to use it :(

Microsoft CEO: ugh...Just give it to them already...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
avanpelt Avatar
avanpelt
160 months ago
They might as well. Give people options. I'm glad I have certain aspects of Google Now in the Google Search app on my iPhone. I use the voice integration part of the Google Search app for some things and Siri for other things. Having choice is a good thing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Renzatic Avatar
Renzatic
159 months ago
why should he/she? The majority of Windows phones still dont have this update. And the majority of windows phones sold will not have the hardware to run this update. The same as the majority of Android phones can't run Google now well because of hardware limitations.

Well yeah, the vast majority of windows phone don't have this update because it's not out yet. It's coming out next week sometime. Plus, as far as I know, every single WP8 phone out there should be able to run the 8.1 update.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G
ghost of jobs
160 months ago
Did you forget about Office for Mac? Remote Desktop? One Note?

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Agreed

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I agree with you on Android. It's a fugly interface. Windows Phone actually has a polished interface as well as iOS. I would certainly switch to Windows Phone from my iPhone if it ever came a time I did not like Apple's business.

I can honestly say I don't think many Android devices would sell if it couldn't be rooted.

Honestly?.. U do realise that probably 1% of androids are maybe rooted.. It's only for super tech heads..

And with the quote that the android interface is fugly... Wow.. bar Google devices are other handsets have a slightly different interface.. but it's still essentially icons and widgets... Or just icons if u wants.... As opposed to just.... Icons... I can see how you think ios is beautiful...

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Yeah exactly, I'm glad someone else gets the frustration. At least OS X asks first if you want to restart now or later.

Is a restart every 3 weeks a frustration?..
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
APlotdevice Avatar
APlotdevice
160 months ago
You need to update your perceptions - Windows' mobile OS is making up ground. It's still a long way off Android and iOS, but people used to make the same jokes about Android...
Except the difference is that the market is much more saturated now that was when Android was starting out. Microsoft entered very late into the game... Sure they had Windows Mobile before that, but they chose not to include backwards compatibility with it in Windows Phone, thus eliminating their entire existing user base. (And worse, a bitter taste in many consumers' mouths from this abandonment; Myself included)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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