Microsoft finally rolls out Cortana for iOS and Android in the UK

Thomas McMullan Read more December 9, 2016

Microsoft is finally bringing its digital assistant Cortana to Android and iOS in the UK. The release, which comes around a year after a similar rollout in the US, features a revamped design, including full-page answers and weather information on the landing page.

Microsoft finally rolls out Cortana for iOS and Android in the UK

When it comes to digital assistants, the app will present a third option for many mobile users in the UK. Much like Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri, Cortana can be accessed hands-free using voice commands. Unlike those AI assistants, however, Cortana doesn’t come built into the phone (unless you have a Windows Phone). Will users want to add a separate digital assistant when they already have one installed?

If you’re an avid Windows 10 user, the answer may be yes. Cortana is synced across devices, including desktops, laptops and the Xbox One. The latest rollout looks to be a continuation of Microsoft’s general cross-platform Windows 10 strategy. The company also claims that the app is faster than its previous iteration.

For non-Windows 10 users, however, Cortana is having to compete against an increasingly crowded digital-assistant market, not only including Google and Apple’s offerings, but also Amazon’s bot Alexa.

Cortana for Android is available now in the UK, and Microsoft says the iOS version should be available “in a few weeks”.