Cortana iOS Beta Heading Out to 2,000 Approved Testers
Cortana for iOS beta will be rolled out to a selected number of testers who have qualified for the program earlier this month.
Microsoft said the beta version of its voice assistant Cortana for iOS will be experienced by 2,000 approved testers who registered for the program via Windows Insider. The beta app will be available for two months for U.S. and China users only, according to a PC World report cited by Yibada.
The launching of the beta app is part of Microsoft's goal to expand the availability of Office, OneDrive, Outlook, Cortana, and other flagship apps. The virtual assistant has now become an important component of Windows 10, but the company still has to work on desktop support in the United Kingdom, the report details.
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Microsoft launched Cortana for Android in August, and the plan for an iOS version was made known earlier this month. To determine the users who will qualify for the beta testing, the tech giant asked them to evaluate how realistic was their experience with the virtual assistant. Based on the results of the survey, the company picked the testers and sent them the download link and instructions for installation of the test app on their devices, the Voice Herald reports.
Unlike its Windows and Android versions, Cortana iOS version will not include all the features of the digital assistant; it will not have the hands-free mode. This is because of the existence of Siri and the closed ecosystem of the iOS, the report explains.
Among the features of Cortana are the abilities to search for information from the Internet, browse emails and calendars, and set appointments and reminders, and compose messages.
Cortana is Microsoft's answer to Apple's Siri. Although the makers of the virtual assistant say Cortana for iOS is meant to create a smooth combination for Windows fans, it is worth noting that Windows smartphones are less popular than iPhones.
