Microsoft Shuts Down Cortana App for iOS and Android

[MacRumors]

As expected, Microsoft today discontinued its Cortana mobile app. As a result, the company has ended all support for third-party Cortana skills and eliminated the Cortana app for iOS and Android devices.

For those unfamiliar with Cortana, it is Microsoft's version of Siri or Alexa, an AI-based personal assistant that can answer questions and complete small tasks. The eponymous mobile app was originally launched in November 2018, but apparently never gained a user base big enough in its short lifetime for Microsoft to consider it worth maintaining.

As explained in a Microsoft support page, from today, March 31, the mobile app is no longer supported, and reminders and lists are no longer available within the app either, although they can still be accessed through Cortana in Windows. Also, Cortana reminders, lists, and tasks are automatically synced to the Microsoft To Do app, which is available as a free download on iOS and Android.

The planned shutdown of the apps was announced in July 2020, when Microsoft said it would be shifting toward a "transformational AI-powered assistant experience" in its Microsoft 365 apps, which would involve refocusing its "areas of innovation and development."

The company has since improved Cortana's integration in Microsoft 365, such as introducing personalized, actionable briefs in Outlook for Exchange users, and adding Cortana to the Teams mobile app to do things like manage calendars, email, and join meetings.

In January 2021, Microsoft ended support for the Cortana integration in the Harman Kardon Invoke speaker, and created a Bluetooth-enabled device transition plan for Invoke owners to be able to continue listening to their favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations. In addition, speaker owners who used Cortana are also eligible for a $50 Microsoft gift card, which is redeemable up to July 31, 2021.

Article Link: Microsoft Shuts Down Cortana App for iOS and Android

 

[MarkPL]

That's really going to upset both people that use it...

 

[Dormammu]

Surprise?

 

[krakman]

In addition, speaker owners who used Cortana are also eligible for a $50 Microsoft gift card, which is redeemable up to July 31, 2021.

Great I’ll use it to buy that Windows phone that I always wanted! Or maybe a Zune ?

 

[lusky]

The planned shutdown of the apps was announced in July 2020, when Microsoft said it would be shifting toward a "transformational AI-powered assistant experience" in its Microsoft 365 apps, which would involve refocusing its "areas of innovation and development."

they're bring back Clippy aren't they?

 

[qoop]

Bye!

 

[The Mercurian]

That's really going to upset both people that use it...

MasterChief might go on a rampage

 

[gmarm]

No wonder since Apple won't allow third party assistants (or music apps, or maps apps, etc) to be set as defaults.

This is typical Apple unfair competition.

I hope this more general issue is addressed soon by regulations.

Not that anyone will miss Cortana anyway though. ?

 

[Mutepointer]

In other words, they didn’t obtain too much information from data harvesting from those devices. Now fully shut it down from pc’s as well.

 

[ian87w]

In other words, they didn’t obtain too much information from data harvesting from those devices. Now fully shut it down from pc’s as well.

I don’t see anybody liking it. It really annoys me as it starts yapping even when you on the first set up screen when you just did a fresh install of Windows 10. Muted it, then I remove it from the task bar. For all the years being a Windows user, I have not found anything useful of Cortana.

 

[williamyun7]

Please do the same thing in windows too?

 

[hagjohn]

It was great while it lasted. Just another thing (it is getting to be a long list) that Microsoft screwed up.

 

[Abazigal]

It was great while it lasted. Just another thing (it is getting to be a long list) that Microsoft screwed up.

An AI service that didn’t have native integration with the rest of the OS was always doomed to fail. Microsoft has a strong desktop computing platform, but they have virtually no smartphone presence, which is where a digital assistant makes the most sense (due to how cumbersome many tasks still are to perform on mobile compared to a desktop).

 

[Serban55]

This is Microsoft....windows RT, windows 10S, windnows phone,cortana, surface duo...a lot of software/hardware that dont see the light for 3 years ..whats next try Microsoft?

 

[Mark and 30 others]

Hi Cortana. You can go ahead and have a seat right there next to Zune and Windows phone. We will be with you... never

 

[rp2011]

This further signals a broader decline in how Microsoft used to completely dominate every aspect of customer computing. They are slowly shedding their reach.

 

[honglong1976]

Great! It was garbage anyway!

 

[rp2011]

I always champion competition because it’s good for consumers, but eventually/ultimately the market/consumers decide, and Darwinism will take hold leaving only one or two dominant players to control the market and be viable.

 

[JohnApples]

Cortana was never true competition to Siri on the iPhone. The fact that Cortana could not be used without launching an app first made it DOA, and I think everyone here knew that.

It was nothing more than a glorified reminders/calendar app. I really don’t know what a Microsoft was thinking, but they should stick with their Office apps on mobile for now.

 

[tridley68]

Never cared for or used it anyway so no loss on my part

 

[mj_]

I don’t see anybody liking it. It really annoys me as it starts yapping even when you on the first set up screen when you just did a fresh install of Windows 10 macOS. Muted it, then I remove it from the task bar menu bar. For all the years being a Windows macOS user, I have not found anything useful of Cortana Siri.

 

[Steve121178]

Great! It was garbage anyway!

Cortana was vastly more intelligent than Siri, it just lacked native integration on iOS which rendered it pointless.

 

[Octopuss]

What is "Cortana"? Ah it must be than crap that I always disable first on new Windows installation.

 

[Eggtastic]

As a Halo fan this bums me out. I used it mostly for my xbox though and even on there they discontinued it.

 

[HarryWild]

I have all Apple devices but depend on Google Assistant! Apple should integrate it into iOS along with Amazon's Alexa. I always turn off Siri when I get a new Apple mobile device! Never used Cortana!