Cortana is Microsoft's new digital assistant that has been turning heads ever since the company announced it at its Build Developer Conference a few months ago. Cortana began life as a feature exclusive to Windows Phone 8.1 and folks living in the US, but that's about to change as Microsoft is bringing her to China and the UK.
According to corporate vice president of operating systems, Joe Belfiore, in Beijing, British and Chinese users of Windows Phone 8.1 will finally get the chance to give Cortana a spin as the digital assistant now support the Chinese language and the UK's version of the English language.
He went on to add that the service will rollout to developer next week and to consumers in the coming months ahead, though he did not give a specific time frame.
In China, the Cortana app is called "Xiao Na" and it will speak Mandarin. It will also include locally relevant information such as weather updates, air quality reports and information about celebrities and TV shows.
The version of Cortana in the UK will have an English accent, along with the ability to keep users up-to-date about what's going on in the English Premier League and other information about Football.
Folks in India, Canada and Australia will all get the chance to use Cortana. However, the service will be tailored to the U.S. and UK audiences, as per Microsoft.
"We have been thrilled by the excitement around Cortana in Windows Phone 8.1. And we're excited to make her available for people in China and the UK with this update as a 'beta' and in Canada, India, and Australia as an 'alpha,'" says Microsoft on its blog.
Apart from bringing Cortana to China and the UK, the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update will also add the following features:
•Enhanced privacy and security
•Live folders
•Store live tiles
•Apps corner
•Faster Xbox Music performance
An update to Xbox Music is a boon for Windows Phone 8.1 users, because it is clear that the music player is below what the default player in Android and iOS.
With all these new updates, it is clear that Microsoft is finally giving Windows Phone, the attention it deserves. Now, the next goal is to increase the amount of people using the platform.
