Back in October Microsoft released preview versions of Edge for iOS and Android, an effort to widen the reach of its proprietary browser. Nearly a month later, it's announcing that these apps are no longer in preview and are now rolling out for users in select markets.
Microsoft Edge For Mobile Now Rolling Out
That's right — Edge for iOS and Android are now both available as free downloads. Mobile versions of Edge are more than just ports, though. They prove that Microsoft is offering a way for PC users to bring the Windows 10-based Edge experience to mobile platforms.
Therefore, it's only fitting that it boasts a so-called Continue On PC feature, enables users to share a website, photo, app, or other information from their mobile phones to Windows 10 PCs in a fast and seamless way. This is similar to Handoff and Continuity between iOS and macOS, at least in theory. We'll have to see if it truly works well.
With Continue On PC, Microsoft hopes to make PCs still relevant in the web browsing landscape, especially in a world where mobile devices are becoming the de facto platform through which users navigate the internet.
Microsoft Edge For Mobile: Things You Should Know
There are a couple of interesting tidbits about Edge for mobile. First, instead of using the underlying Microsoft EdgeHTML rendering engine, the iOS version uses Webkit, the same engine Apple uses. Second, the Android version uses the Chromium Blink engine. Presumably, such moves were done to optimize the app for the two respective mobile platforms, which is pretty clever.
The browser sports some usual features such as favorites, history, private mode, reading list, and password syncing. In addition, there's also a built-in QR code reader in case users need to scan something. Voice search is also present, and Microsoft promises that it'll look up information in "more natural, familiar ways" than traditional searches.
For now, Edge for iOS is available only in a handful of languages, including English, French, and Simplified-Chinese. Edge for Android, meanwhile, is also available in the same set of languages but is the only one available for Indian users. Microsoft says it hopes to bring the app to additional markets and add more languages going forward.
"We are committed to empowering people and organizations to achieve more. And Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android is another step in that journey," writes Microsoft in a blog post. "We have a long list of new features to build and improvements to make. We hope you will try the app alongside your Windows 10 PCs and provide your ideas on what can make it even better."
