Software developer Microsoft Corporation MSFT took a step closer to cross-platform dominance and boosted the company's Windows 10 push. It released its personal virtual assistant Cortana on competing platforms.
The digital assistant is now available as a downloadable app on Apple’s AAPL iOS, Alphabet’s GOOGL Android, and Cyanogen OS devices. It is available on devices running iOS 8 or Android 4.1.2 and can be downloaded from their respective app stores. As for Cyanogen OS-powered One Plus One Android phone, Cortana will be available later this month. Cortana apps will only be available in the U.S. and China at launch.
Microsoft had announced in May that Cortana would be available on non-Windows platforms, that is, on Android phones and iPhones in the form of an app. In August, it launched the first public beta Cortana on Android. It had launched the private beta for Android in July.
Microsoft had unveiled the voice assistant feature — Cortana — for Windows Phone last year in April, at the annual Build conference in San Francisco, to gain traction in a highly competitive smartphone market and to compete against other voice-activated digital assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Google Now.
Just like Apple's Siri, Cortana enables Windows 10 users to share data across PC users and to set reminders, preview weather conditions, check calendar and respond to basic questions with the help of incorporated Internet search capabilities.
Other Cortana for iOS and Android features include time reminders across PC and phone, tracing packages, and tracking flights, scores, stocks and other information across your PC and phone.
It also informs a user about a missed call on the phone through a notification on a Windows 10 PC and the option to send a text message back to the caller.
The latest move clearly reflects Microsoft’s cross-platform vision for delivering its services and creating a more consistent Windows experience across devices.
The move seems quite significant because the Windows Phone holds a very small market share. Android and iOS, on the other hand, are the leading smartphone operating systems around the globe.
The largest software developer seems focused and optimistic about its services and platforms strategy. With the latest move, the company can make its services available to millions regardless of the device used.
Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the technology sector is Amazon.com Inc. AMZN, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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