14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already made it clear that it wants to expand its offering on Android and iOS with apps and services that are specifically tailored to devices running one of these two platforms, and Cortana is living proof.
Originally available on Windows Phone and then on Windows 10, Cortana has expanded to Android and iOS, and Microsoft is using every small occasion to highlight its capabilities on non-Windows platforms.
This is the case of an ad released today and which showcases Cortana running on Windows 10, but also on Android, with the company emphasizing how easy it is to have the digital assistant doing things for you regardless of the platform or whether you’re at the desk or on the go.
While it’s very clear that investing in Cortana on non-Windows platforms is a thing that Microsoft is very keen on, this decision is kind of frustrating for a number of hardcore Windows fans who hoped to see the company keeping the digital assistant exclusive to its own platforms.
Cortana on Android
Replies posted to Microsoft’s video on YouTube call “Microsoft advertising Cortana on Android just sad,” while others are wondering how come Microsoft picked Android and not Windows phones for highlighting the capabilities of its personal assistant.
The answer was already offered by Windows boss Terry Myerson, who explained in May 2016 that Microsoft wanted to offer users of all platforms the chance to access its services.
“Our company will be pragmatic and embrace other mobile platforms with our productivity services, device management services, and development tools - regardless of a person’s phone choice, we want everyone to be able to experience what Microsoft has to offer them,” Myerson said at that time.
So there you go, Cortana for Android is improving and this ad shows that there’s no reason not to give it a try, especially if you’re on Android and you’re looking for a digital assistant other than Google’s.
