14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is retiring Cortana on Android and iPhone, so the company has started to show notifications on mobile devices to prepare users for this change.
The Cortana app for smartphones now shows a warning telling users it would be discontinued at the end of this month.
“On March 31, 2021, Cortana mobile will be discontinued,” the message reads. A learn more link is also offered with additional information on what exactly is happening.
Users who click the link are being told that Cortana would no longer be supported on iPhone and Android after the March 31 deadline.
“As we announced in July, we will soon be ending support for the Cortana app on Android and iOS, as Cortana continues its evolution as a productivity assistant,” the company explains.
“As of March 31, 2021, the Cortana content you created–such as reminders and lists–will no longer function in the Cortana mobile app, but can still be accessed through Cortana in Windows. Also, Cortana reminders, lists, and tasks are automatically synced to the Microsoft To Do app, which you can download to your phone for free. After March 31, 2021, the Cortana mobile app on your phone will no longer be supported.”
Cortana now an enterprise-focused tool
Indeed, Cortana has pretty much lost its consumer focus, becoming an enterprise-oriented application with features specifically built with this category in mind. In Windows 10, Cortana is already a second-class citizen, with Microsoft also giving up on the digital assistant for hardware like the Invoke speaker.
Going forward, Cortana will remain available in products aimed at enterprises, so iPhone and Android users would better stick with the assistants available on their phones. Google Assistant on Android and Siri on iOS provide a more native experience, obviously with no end of support plans in the long term.