Microsoft's plan to connect its upcoming Windows 10 operating system to all platforms will bring its virtual assistant Cortana to Android and iOS supported devices.
The computer giant made the announcement Tuesday, stating that Cortana will be made available in other platforms so that users can easily link their Windows PC files on their iPhones or Android-powered smartphones. According to the announcement, Windows 10 will be released with an app known as the Phone Companion, which is specifically developed to help the soon-to-be released operating system to work well with all smartphones available in the market.
"Regardless of the operating systems you choose across your devices, everything important to you should roam across the products you already own - including your phone," Microsoft exec Joe Belfiore said in an official statement.
Users can simply plug their smartphones into a Windows 10-supported computer, then the Phone Companion will instantly help install all the phone apps made by Microsoft into the connected device, including Microsoft Office, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, Music, as well as the Cortana virtual secretary.
Microsoft explained that iOS and Android devices can experience almost all the functions of Cortana in Windows and Windows Phone devices like answering questions, providing alerts, as well as flight tracking. However, the iOS-compatible Cortana will not be capable of certain tasks like launching apps, changing the system settings, as well as instantly responding to hands-free commands.
Some iOS and Android users are not exactly excited with the news about Cortana's appearance in their platforms, since iOS already has Siri and Android is currently offering Google Now. The two exclusive virtual assistants are already known to be more user-friendly and they reportedly provide better platform integration and functions.
Cortana for Android is expected to be released by the end of June, while the iOS-compatible Cortana is slated to be released later this year.
