• Cortana to be launched on iOS and Android but with slightly less functionality

Cortana to be launched on iOS and Android but with slightly less functionality (Photo : Twitter)

Microsoft is prepping its virtual personal assistant Cortana for a cross-platform release for the iOS operating system. The Redmond-based tech giant is currently hiring beta testers for the iOS build of Cortana. Reports claim that Microsoft will be sending out invites within the next couple of weeks.

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According to The Verge, Microsoft is now accepting registrations for those who are interested to test the preview version of Cortana on iOS. However, the beta release will be limited to the United States and China. Microsoft has yet to announce whether it plans to cover other regions in the future.

Not all of Cortana's feature will be carried over to it iOS version. The command, "hey Cortana," used to engage the virtual personal assistant will not be available on the iOS version.

In a statement released by Microsoft, it states, "We want help from our Windows Insiders to make sure she's a great personal assistant on iOS too. We're looking for a limited number of people to get their hands on an early version of the app."

It is still unclear whether Microsoft plans to link Cortana to its OneNote and Outlook apps, both of which are already available on the iOS platform and are scheduled to be released before the end of the year.

Aside from iOS, Cortana has also find its way into the Android platform when Microsoft rolled out its beta version in August. Microsoft is also integrating Cortana to the Xbox One console and the company is also planning to add Cortana into the Cyanogen Android platform, according to ZDNet.