Microsoft’s Cortana now available as an Android beta

25 Aug 2015

Cortana is coming to Android phones, but only in the US for the moment

Microsoft has released a beta version of Cortana to the Android ecosystem with a version for iOS coming soon.

Microsoft is only rolling the Android app out in the US at present but promises more countries will follow shortly.

“The Cortana app on Android is the companion to your Windows 10 PC, extending Cortana’s functionality across any device you carry, everywhere you go,” explained Microsoft’s Susan Hendrich.

Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s Siri and Google’s Now.

Cortana comes to Android

It is a personal organiser focused on managing your lifestyle by providing timely reminders, searching the web via voice commands, tracking flight details and completing tasks across devices.

Microsoft has also made it possible to set Cortana as the destination for the home button press.

There are a few differences between what Cortana can do in her native Windows environment and in the Android app.

For example, opening apps, changing settings or invoking Cortana by saying “Hey Cortana” are only available on Windows devices for now.

Android smartphone image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com