Cortana Heading to iOS and Android Formats

First, she left Master Chief in Halo 4 and went to Windows. Now, Cortana is headed to iOS and Android smartphones.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President Joe Belfiore has announced that his company's formerly Windows 10 and Windows Phone exclusive companion app, Cortana, will be available soon for iOS and Android smartphones. The app will be able to integrate with the version of Cortana on Windows 10 to help bridge the gap between your smartphone and PC. Cortana originally debuted for Windows Phone devices in April 2014, which unfortunately haven't been selling as well as the Big M had hoped. Earlier this year, Microsoft decided to move Master Chief's AI partner over to Windows 10. Finally, Microsoft has opened the gates for iOS and Android users to gain Cortana as a companion as well.

"Today, we’re announcing a Cortana application for Android phones and for iPhones which works as a companion to Cortana on your Windows 10 PC," Belfiore said. "The Phone Companion app on the PC will help you install the Cortana app from the Google Play or Apple App Store onto your phone so you’ll be able to take the intelligence of Cortana with you, wherever you go."

Cortana is a digital assistant that uses the cloud tech of Microsoft's OneDrive to keep track of all your documents and files, including songs, movies, spreadsheets and documents. The app is comparable to Apple's Siri companion for iOS devices.

The Cortana app can do most of the things Cortana does on your PC or on a Windows phone. You can have Cortana remind you to pick up milk the next time you’re at the grocery store, and then your phone will wake up and buzz with the reminder. You’ll be able to track a flight using Cortana on both your phone and your PC, and get the updates on the device that you’re on so you don’t miss anything. Everything in Cortana’s Notebook will show up across all your devices and any changes you make on one device will be reflected when you use Cortana on any of your other devices. The Cortana companion app will help you complete tasks you begin on your PC wherever you are, on your phone.

Cortana will launch for Android phones by the end of June and iPhones by the end of the year.