• Cortana, Microsoft's Personal Assistant Software, Has Danny MacAskill In A Spin

Cortana, Microsoft's Personal Assistant Software, Has Danny MacAskill In A Spin (Photo : Getty Images)

Microsoft has sent email notices to iOS users who expressed their intent to try the company's personal assistant, Cortana, on their Apple devices. The users were informed that the beta version of Cortana would be available for download.

Among the services that iOS users could avail of using Cortana are schedule management, alarms, reminders, voice-powered help and tracking of stocks, packages, flights and scores, reports Times Gazette.

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Those who said they wanted to try the beta version of the Microsoft personal assistant stated their desire in an online forum where Microsoft conducted a survey on who among iOS users would want to try it. In the survey, iOS users had to divulge what device they use and if they used Cortana of a Windows 10 PC.

Although the survey targeted the U.S. market, it said that the personal assistant app of Microsoft for iOS would be available to beta testers in the U.S. and China.


The poll tried to find out the number of cross-platform users for the personal assistant app since Cortana could link PCs and iPhones. A reminder made on a PC could be received on an iPhone when the users is travelling.

Microsoft distributed the beta version of Cortana using TestFlight which means only 2,000 iOS users could download Cortana. It took four months for Microsoft to bring Cortana to iOS beta testers. The tech giant rolled out the Android version of the apps in August, notes TechCrunch.