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Microsoft's Cortana will be available for both iOS and Android devices; Microsoft to release new apps for each device

Microsoft's digital voice assistant, Cortana, is not going to be held out for any group of smartphone users, as it will be heading to both iOS and Android devices. Cortana will be coming to the new devices just in time for the summer season.

Cortana, Microsoft's digital voice assistant, will continue to have the same features it did when it was still exclusive only to PCs and Windows Phones, according to Mashable. This means Cortana will continue to be able to provide answers to the variety of queries its users can present, it can continue to track flights, and still provide important notifications even related to things such as groceries just as it did on its original platforms.

In order to properly accommodate the move of Cortana to new iOS and Android devices, Microsoft is also releasing new apps for each device variant, according to The Verge. For now though, Microsoft is giving only what amounts to a preliminary look at the apps, so people who are interested will have to stay tuned to learn more about what they can really do.

The Android and iOS variants of Cortana are not expected to be as powerful as its original Windows Phone version. Features such as opening apps, using hands-free mode, and adjusting Cortana's settings, are not expected to be found on Android or iOS devices, though Microsoft has indicated that those features might also become available later on.

In related news, Microsoft has also announced the release of a new Phone Companion app that will be shipped together with the Windows 10 operating system, according to NDTV. The new app will enable users to connect a Windows PC they own to any smartphone, meaning it can be used together with any Windows Phones, iOS devices, and Android phones as well, allowing for greater accessibility across the board.


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