Microsoft kills Cortana on its iOS, Android and other devices

Microsoft is re-evaluating its Cortana virtual assistant application, as it cannot compete with Apple Siri, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Microsoft announced that it would remove the Cortana app on iOS and Android, discontinue support for the Harman Kardon Invoke smart speaker and remove Cortana from the Surface Headphones.

All of these moves will begin in 2021, meaning there are still a few more months left. However, it marked an important change for Microsoft, as well as acknowledging the defeat of Cortana before other competitors on the mobile platform.

Microsoft will focus on the features of the virtual assistant Cortana on the computer platform. In particular, Cortana will be an integral part of the Office 365 office suite, Outlook email application and Teams support application.

Microsoft hopes to create a virtual assistant tool that will compete directly with rivals Google and Amazon. Instead, Cortana will be like an additional feature in Microsoft software and services.

For customers who have purchased the Harman Kardon Invoke smart speaker, Microsoft will offer a $ 50 purchase card, to offset the effects of Cortana’s removal. Customers who buy Surface Headphones also get a $ 25 purchase card.

However, iOS and Android users will not be compensated at all. Perhaps the Cortana application no longer appears on iOS and Android does not affect too much users. Sometimes a lot of people don’t even know the existence of this virtual assistant application.

Reference: theverge