Cortana, the Siri – Like New Windows Phone Feature

As we said yesterday, Microsoft seems to be back in the saddle, as the company revealed yet another surprise for the tech passionate: Cortana, the Siri – like Windows Phone feature that acts like a virtual assistant, one of the many updates and innovations Microsoft wants to share with the world. Cortana is as jolly and chatty as Apple’s Siri, while “she” is also prompt in delivering you all the information you might need, just like Google Now. If you happen to be a “Halo” fan, you already know Cortana is an AI character in the game.

According to specialists keeping their eyes on Microsoft lately, Cortana, the Siri – like new Windows Phone feature might give the company a certain leverage over the competition, not only because it tries to catch up from behind the challengers, but also tries to outrun them: besides helping you to set alarms and make calendar entries, or use voice commands to search for information, Cortana will schedule your appointments a bit better, as “she” will warn you about possible conflicts among the items in a calendar when you add new ones, so you don’t schedule two meetings in the same time – frame or miss an important event. It can also remind you to do simple things, like asking your mother how her appointment with her doctor went down next time you talk to her. In comparison to Google Now, Cortana will ask you first whether or not you wish to be alerted on some topics, thus saving you time and supplemental efforts.

Cortana is still in her beta version, therefore mistakes are still possible, especially in the voice recognition skills and request responses, but the company is working on it. Some official statements let us know that a fully functional Cortana will be launched in the second half of this year in the U.S., Great Britain and China.

Microsoft revealed a lot of interesting information yesterday about the general Windows 8.1 Update and its intentions to gain a more powerful position in the smartphone market, proving that the company’s agenda for this year has some pretty big goals to reach.