Microsoft now lets you use Cortana with your phone and Band 2

Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant is now available to owners of the Band 2, who are pairing the wearable with an Android device.

Previously, Cortana was only available to Microsoft Band 2 users who also paired up their wearables with Windows Phone devices.

Cortana is regarded as Microsoft’s powerful voice assistant, so its addition to Android devices will be beneficial to users.

This Microsoft Band 2 is priced with $249.99 when it was launched, and the current price of the band and retailing the U.S. is at $174.99. With the update, you’ll be able to create challenges for things like steps, runs, bike rides, and so on. This update makes the Band 2 work with Android in just about every single way it does with Microsoft’s own Windows Phone platform.

It shall however, be noted that the Cortana support on the update’s availability is limited. Speak into the mic on your Band to get Cortana to take notes, set reminders, fetch facts, and more. Thanks to the latest Microsoft Health app update, there’s now full Cortana integration with Android when you’re rocking a Band 2. Sure, you can do a lot of that on the Microsoft Band already but you have to do it manually, swiping and poking around the user interface.

The Health app helps users set wellness goals and get actionable insights into living healthier, with charts and graphs in the phone app or on the web dashboard.

Cortana first arrived on Android as a public beta in August past year. This is made possible by the new features of Microsoft Band 2.

All you need to do is have Cortana for Android installed on your smartphone as well. For the uninitiated, Microsoft Health is an activity-tracking piece of mobile software specifically designed for usage and syncing with Microsoft Band wearables.

Done, now you’re you’re ready to bark order to your Band 2 device.