First Public Beta for Cortana for Android Launched by Microsoft, iOS Version in the Works

Following its first private beta and a few leaks, Microsoft has recently launched Cortana personal assistant for Android. There’s no doubt that it functions just as Google Now and Siri has.

As Microsoft describes Cortana, it is a service that is a ‘companion for your Windows 10 PC’ but can also extend its functionality to other devices as well.

 Simply put, Cortana for Android isn’t very different from the version for the PC. You can do a number of things that Cortana has been doing on other platforms. Some of these functions include searching the web, tracking flights, setting reminders apart from the normal voice-powered searches that Cortana offers.

Of course, there’s one key difference: you cannot start Cortana by saying ‘Hey Cortana’ since it doesn’t have full access to your phone. Neither will you be able to open other apps from Cortana or even toggle settings. These features will only be available on the Windows 10 PC.

If you’re interested in Cortana for Android, you still have to sign up for the public beta. Only this time, Microsoft uses the Google beta sign-up process for Android apps. Now you don’t have to join a Google+ community or Google Group but just have to click a single button and you’re done.

For now, the app is only available in the United States but Microsoft reveals that it will roll it out in other markets soon. It must be said that the current version is only suitable for Android phone but not tablets even if it’s Nexus, in particular.

Apart from this, Microsoft also revealed that they are working on an iOS version of Cortana but there’s no information as to when it will be released.