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Microsoft is considering bringing Cortana voice assistant to Android and other platforms

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Cortana-Vs-Siri-Vs-Google-Now

While Google Now is great for bringing you the information you need before you need it, for some, there’s still a need (or want) to interact with a voice controlled “personal assistant.” This is partly the reason Siri has grown into a sassy pop icon she is today, and why Microsoft introduced their own in-house personal assistant dubbed Cortana.

Only available via a developer preview for Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft is preparing the service for a worldwide debut later this year. As a major selling point to help get more consumers on board with Windows Phone, you’d think Microsoft would be hoarding Cortana all to itself. But in an interview with Search Engine Land, it appears Microsoft is actually open to the idea of bringing Cortana to rival platforms like Android and iOS. In an interview with Search Engine Land, Windows Phone Group Program Manager Marcus Ash mentioned,

“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.”

Ash also hinted at the possibility of Cortana arriving on desktops and vehicles, but because Cortana is still finding her identity on Windows Phone, it’s unlikely we’ll see her making a trip on over to the Google Play Store any time soon. With rival services being offered by Google and Siri, we have to admit it’d be nice to see a little competition in the personal assistant space. After all, options are good.

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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17 Comments

  1. This won’t work that well on iOS because Siri is deeply integrated. For Android this will work much better despite Now. But then again, if Cortana goes cross-platform, why would I go to WP then?

    1. But this is what it’s supposed to be all about. You should be able to choose what phone you want on any OS. All apps should be on all the major OS’s and it then becomes what OS you like.

      Of course, that’s just a huge dream that doesn’t seem so likely, but yea.

  2. If Cortana still uses Bing for search then you can count me OUT.

  3. Another MS Trojan pos

  4. I give google credit for not coping siri

  5. A pretty face on a mediocre search engine. Meh.

  6. It has a great codename and not much else.

  7. I don’t know about this one, but Microsoft’s Voice Command from the old days on Windows phones before Android was even around was excellent. Noting I have tried compares in accuracy and basic needs. Even back then, you could play music by genre, album or artist; have it read your agenda for the day; call contacts. But again, the good thing was it just worked.

  8. This would be a great move on ms part. In all honesty, a simple voice recognition program isn’t going to sell phones. Siri, Google now, s voice, Cortana, robin, they don’t sell many devices. It’s usually other features that sell devices. Specs, camera, design of the phone and ui that sell. If Microsoft wants to compete against siri or now (and others), they need to go to a platform that has the market, that has the users.

    1. I’m pretty sure back in the day siri sold quite a few devices

  9. Would love the voice for Google Maps. The stock robitc voice is terrible

  10. Can Cortana kill Samsung’s useless voice assistant? If so, great. Otherwise, it’s a moot point. Yes, i’ve seen apps that redirect S Voice to Google Now, but they’re an awkward kludge at best. And a kludge that doesn’t work perfectly unless you root your device.

  11. This is an interesting concept, but I think it should stay to Windows and migrate it’s way to Windows 8.1.

  12. I think they should work on spreading it fully across their own platform first….talk about putting the cart before the horse.

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  14. since i love halo…i love the idea of cortana and would love to have this on my phone…if microsft does it right ti can be a big selling point for windows phone…which i always root for since im a windows guy…and id love this on my windows 8.1 rig at home so def hope it migrates to that platform from windows phone

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