Earlier this year during its BUILD 2014 event Microsoft formally unveiled Cortana, the much rumored digital personal assistant for Windows Phone. While its very much possible that it may make its way to other Microsoft devices like the Xbox, it may take considerably longer for Cortana to be available on rival platforms, if Microsoft ever decides to do that at all. However recently some comments made by Marcus Ash, Microsoft’s Group Program Manager for Windows Phone, were interpreted as confirmation of possible plans to export Cortana to Android and iOS. Ash took to Twitter to clarify that this is not the case.
This past week we saw a question and answer session with Microsoft which resulted in a slightly misunderstood bit of information being spread. As it turns out, Microsoft is not necessarily planning on releasing Cortana to any platform other than their own: Windows Phone and possibly Windows. Instead, Cortana needs to have a far more solid experience at home before any push beyond their borders, so says Microsoft. It was none other than Group Program Manager for Cortana on Windows Phone Marcus Ash that took to Twitter to solidify some points on the Q and A session from earlier this week. Speaking at the SMX Advanced conference this week, Ash had suggested that Microsoft would make Cortana “pervasive” through all Microsoft devices and platforms. For now, he says, any suggestion of Android or iOS use of Cortana is just that – a suggestion. Ash suggested this afternoon that their top priority was to “make Cortana great for Windows Phone customers”, to “make it so good that Windows Phone customers get everyone they know on Windows Phone.” He went on to say that the “showcase experience will always be on Windows Phone,” that once these first goals are met, they’ll “THINK about Cortana on Windows.”
