Microsoft has reportedly started to test a version of the Cortana voice-powered virtual assistant on iOS. Following after earlier reports the software producer was
accepting signups from "Windows Insiders" in the US and China for the trial, the Windows-centric rival to Siri is apparently undergoing a closed beta test via TestFlight, with a lot of the core functionality of the assistant apparently being included in this initial release.
Images from
WareNotice reveal users are still able to verbally ask questions to Cortana, as well as to set reminders and appointments, receive updates on items of interest, and to send or receive emails and texts. Just as with the Windows Phone version, appointments and reminders set within the iOS app will turn into alerts on a Windows 10 system, with
TechCrunch reporting it can also be used to set up location-based reminders, and open other apps on the device by request.
Since it is being trialled via TestFlight, it means Microsoft is only conducting the beta with at most 2,000 people, a far cry from the
1.5 million "Insiders" testing out Windows 10 before its release. Since it has already been spotted in testing on
Android, it seems likely Microsoft is getting close to making its digital assistant available to a wider array of smartphones than at present, possibly with a simultaneous release, but when precisely this will be remains unknown.
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