Is Microsoft Corporation’s (MSFT) Cortana A Better Alternative To Google Inc

Microsoft said Monday its Cortana virtual assistant software was available to users of Android mobile devices… “The Cortana app on Android is the companion to your Windows 10 PC, extending Cortana’s functionality across any device you carry, everywhere you go”, said Susan Hendrich, principal program manager for Microsoft Cortana, in an August 24 announcement. There had always been stiff competition between Google Now and Siri, and it seemed that Now would edge out Siri as the preferred choice. According to research firm Gartner, Windows had just 2.5 percent of the global smartphone market in the second quarter compared with 82 percent for Google’s Android and 14.6 percent for Apple’s iOS. Perhaps the most critical feature is that Cortana can be configured to replace Google Now, as the default digital assistant every time the user presses the Home button and wants assistance. The decision to enter the Android platform is part of Microsoft’s strategy to broaden its market, especially towards the biggest mobile platform.

The service is available to download now from Google’s Play Store, where users can download a beta version of Cortana in order to try it out before a full-scale release later this year. In short, Cortana will be available to you across all of your devices and will keep track of all the details that are important to you. “As with all betas, we are continually improving the experience and will incorporate feedback along the way”. Cortana is also included in Edge, the new browser, that Microsoft has developed as a successor to Internet Explorer.

In July, originally released to a small number of users, Today’s update is a significant step as Microsoft looks to expand Cortana’s footprint beyond Windows platform.

Still, there are a few things that Cortana for Android cannot do. You also won’t be able to open apps from Cortana or toggle settings.