Microsoft’s Cortana mobile app for iOS was shut down today, as Microsoft stated earlier. As a result, Microsoft has stopped promoting third-party Cortana skills and discontinued the Cortana app for iOS and Android. The ai-based personal assistant mobile app was first released in November 2018, but it appears that it never attracted a large enough user base for Microsoft to consider it worth maintaining.
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“As of March 31, 2021, the Cortana content you created–such as reminders and lists–will no longer function in the Cortana mobile app, but can still be accessed through Cortana in Windows. Also, Cortana reminders, lists, and tasks are automatically synced to the Microsoft To-Do app, which you can download to your phone for free,” the company stated.
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Microsoft revealed last year that support for its virtual assistant on Android and iOS will be discontinued. Microsoft stated that it will be refocusing towards “transformational AI-powered assistant experience” in its Microsoft 365 apps, which would involve refocusing its “areas of innovation and development.”
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The transition was also regarded as Microsoft’s attempt to promote Cortana to productivity-oriented users.
Cortana’s integration in Microsoft 365 has since been enhanced, with customized, actionable briefs in Outlook for Exchange users and Cortana being added to the Teams mobile app to access schedules, email, and attend meetings.
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