Once upon a time, all the phones had their own personal assistant program. Apple had Siri, Microsoft had Cortana and Android had Google Live. But then things changed.
Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it is releasing an iOS and Android version of Cortana, its personal assistant program. According to Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, Cortana will have most of the functionality that the Windows 10 version will. For example, "You can have Cortana remind you to pick up milk the next time you're at the grocery store, and then your phone will wake up and buzz with the reminder. You'll be able to track a flight using Cortana on both your phone and your PC, and get the updates on the device that you're on so you don't miss anything.......The Cortana companion app will help you complete tasks you begin on your PC wherever you are, on your phone."
While this sounds like a fantastic upgrade, it should be noted that Cortana cannot perform certain functions on iOS or Android devices, including toggling settings, and opening non-supported apps.
Microsoft also announced that it is releasing a phone Companion app for iOS and Android. This app would allow users to connect their phones to a Windows 10 computer, regardless of what operating system it is using.
The Companion app will give users access to Microsoft OneDrive, which will store a user's photos, notes and Microsoft documents in the cloud and allow them to access the files at any time.
Microsoft did not share a release date for Cortana or the Phone Companion app, though it seems reasonable to assume both apps will be available around the same time as Windows 10.
