The company has released a beta version of the app to the Google Play Store for the adventurous to try out. Just don’t expect to be blown away.
Advertisement
The Cortana app on Android is the companion to a Windows 10 PC. The experience will be better on Windows Phone, at least that’s the impression Microsoft wants to give, but if you like your Android apps, then this is a pretty good compromise. In mid-July, Cortana for Android arrived as a limited, invite-only beta.
Users interested in trying the public beta for Cortana on Android can use this link to become a beta tester.
That said, you can ask Cortana questions, set reminders, or use Cortana to start a phone call or compose a text message, among other things. I’ve signed up for the public beta, and when I try to install Cortana on my Moto X 2014, there’s a notification that says that Cortana is not compatible with my device.
Advertisement
Cortana, the Microsoft-made personal assistant, is now available for all to download on Google Play. Microsoft had officially announced that the app would launch for Android soon, in May. All of these features are now only available on Windows 10 PCs. For example toggling settings, opening apps or invoking Cortana hands-free by saying “Hey Cortana” are only available on Windows for now. And, as of a few months ago, we Android users have been hoping and hearing about (as well as perhaps sideloading leaked versions of) Cortana for the Android ecosystem. With Microsoft’s worthless market share in the smartphone market and its presence on Android, it seems as if the tech giant is planning to take on the market of mobile phone features and services.
