Microsoft has confirmed in a support page that it’ll pull the digital assistant as a standalone app from both platforms on January 31, 2020.
The company has revealed that it is pulling the plug of Cortana from third-party platforms including Android and iOS. The company has revealed that it is killing off its Cortana app from both the platforms.
A newly published support article from Microsoft notes that the software will be withdrawn from these major app stores on 31st January 2020 as part of an ‘evolution’ of its digital assistant service. Furthermore, the integration of Cortana in Microsoft’s Android Launcher app is evolving in the same way as the dodo, in the same time scale.
After the Cortana apps are removed from the respective stores you will no longer be able to access reminders, lists and so on, via the app or the Microsoft launcher. Microsoft says you will still be able to access your reminders, lists, and tasks on mobile via the Microsoft To-Do app. On PC, Cortana on Windows will still be available.
While the Cortana app will get deleted from app stores, the Microsoft Launcher app will be updated with Cortana removed.
Those who currently use the Cortana mobile app to configure settings and update the firmware of the Surface Headphones, Harman Kardon Invoke, and other devices will have to use the dedicated Cortana Device Setup app for Windows instead.
The standalone app lets Cortana listen to voice commands and respond through its knowledge graph or integrated third-party services. Now, it’ll be transitioned to a built-in feature on Microsoft’s other products.
Previously, at the Surface event in New York, Microsoft unveiled the Windows 10X operating system for dual-screen PCs as well as a slew of new Surface-branded products. The new Surface devices include the Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro X, Surface Earbuds, Surface Neo and Surface Duo.
The Surface Neo and Duo will arrive in Holiday 2020, while the rest of the lineup will be available this holiday season.
