Earlier today it was reported that Marcus Ash, group program manager for Cortana on Windows Phone, was weighing the pros and cons of bringing Cortana to other platforms. The decision to do so is perhaps a lot more complicated than diehard Windows Phone fans would think when all factors get taken into account.
Now, a video of Ash's full response to the question of whether or not Cortana should stay on Windows Phone has been posted. In context, the question and answer is certainly a lot more complicated than one may think as there are benefits with either choice.
Although no firm answer is given, due to the ongoing deliberations by Microsoft, it's fascinating to hear their concerns as to why Cortana by being isolated to one platform could hurt the personal assistant. At one point Ash ponders what happens when Cortana jumps from Windows Phone to Windows 8:
"If I'm a Windows PC user and I have a Kindle tablet and an Android phone, how good is the Windows Cortana experience going to be if it doesn't know anything about what I'm doing with those devices? It's really a difficult question that we're spending a lot of time trying to figure out."
"Clearly we want people to buy Windows, we have a bunch of Windows customers, hundreds of millions that have Windows PCs and would love for them to have a great Cortana experience because once they have that they will probably consider other devices and say 'Well, I want to match them up.' But how do we get Android users or these other iOS users that use Windows to have a great experience?"
Indeed, the problem Microsoft is struggling with is they are not selling just one device and service, but instead, many. That fragmentation makes it harder to shutout potential customers due to company hubris, and while Microsoft could take such a path, the Cortana experience itself could be degraded for non-Windows Phone users. Smartphones, after all, do provide a plethora of personal information about a user that a PC cannot.
It's not a trivial challenge and while it's easy to choose one side, it's only after looking at the full picture does the question go from black and white to grey.
Does the full response of Marcus Ash make you reconsider your original opinion on the matter? What do you think Microsoft should do?
Source: Mark Guim, Twitter
Reader comments
Watch the full response as to why Microsoft is considering Cortana for iOS and Android
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Interesting proposal to deploy Cortana on other platform, specially that there is no Cortana available to WP yet! My experience with Windows 8 is that it is the most usable on phone, not on tablet or laptop/desktop. Majority of modern aps on those platforms look like unfinished products with greatly limited functionality or no fucntionality at all (say paint, file manager, music, translators, even Skype). They look and act clumsy on the large screen. They look simply "lost" and out of place when I open them. The reason is lack of windowing and difficulties in exchanging information between them. However, many of them make sens on the phone where the screeen size is smaller and changing open programs is easier to achieve; some of the same programs become really usable! By the same token, I believe Cortan will be the best on the phone. In general, I share the feeling of other users: we, the people, who spent exessive amount of money for spectacular hardware, e.g. many Nokia phones and majority of windows tablets, are becoming the beta testers for Microsoft vane trials to produce something sparkling and flashy looking instead of improving and evolving on the old great model of desktop Windows interface. Just like iOS did. What is worst, I do not see any proven way of communicating ideas or getting any feedback from Microsoft. E.g. until today there is no well functioning MS Office for Windows 8 tablets although there is one for iOS/Android. What else can be said? Great software works well even on not so great hardware, however hardware, even the best one (Surface Pro) is useless without good software.
Cortana is the most "unique" feature on "Windows Phone". Making it available for other platforms is like improving them further (which are already ahead of windows phone in terms of features and functionality). People weighing the pros and cons of windows phone with other platforms, will see that they already have this available for them. Another loss for windows phone. Unless, on other platforms it is watered down version just to show the capabilities of Cortana and not giving away all the features. I agree that that it seems good for the neural network to improve, but i think you too would agree that the uniqueness of windows phone will be lost, to be soon followed with windows phone. I have full faith in windows phone, and I have been supporter of it since windows phone 7.5. But some things should be exclusive to Windows phone.
Yep exactly. Go buy an android or IOS phone and use Microsoft services. It's a win for Microsoft... And if you want those services integrated, buy windows phone.. Double win.
No, please don't use "clean UI" and "Android" in the same sentence..
It is an interesting dilemma, especially considering the new direction that Microsoft is taking but I have to stick to my guns on this one, Cortana should remain exclusive to Windows. If anything, make it so that is aware of other devices on a shared wi-fi network so that it will be able to share media and be contextually aware but that's it. And yes, a great exclusive feature will bring users into an ecosystem. Look at what Siri did for the 4s. There weren't that many differences between it and the 4 but it sold like hotcakes, partly due to Siri. Do people use Siri all the time? No, but it is a selling point. Then there's the added insult that if they do ultimately decide to bring Cortana to other platforms, those versions will get updates before the Windows versions.
I'm using a Nexus 5 right now because I'm with T-Mobile and AT&T have pretty much all the high end Windows phone and I wanted something with at least 5 inches so I went with the nexus 5 to wait and see if T-Mobile will get one.
With all that being said if I can get Cortana on Android as I'm getting Skype, one drive, Bing etc, I'm never coming back to wp and this is coming from a guy that owned MDA, T-Mobile Wing, Touch Pro 2, HD 7, Titan 2. Microsoft plays way too nice or maybe they don't really see wp as really a competitor to iOS and Android.
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Or, keep Cortana exclusive to WP and sell more WP's, don't know, just an idea.
Windows only should be fine
This implies that Mac is the Ferrari! Both my wife and son have iPads and iPhones. I have seen first hand the are not Ferrari"s with the exception of the price. If you are going to use these devices in the real world and have them work well in a business environment. Apple or Android is not the way to go! In the long run Microsoft will eat away some of the market share and have a foot hold just like they have in the game console market!
Dear Microsoft, you done have fu**ed up!
1000 comments exactly!
Your reasoning is flawed the better more useful product will prevail how the hell do you think andoid caught up to IOS???? It wasn't over night
The company will fail if they change their philosophy under Satya. You cant get in bed with your competetitor Satya already destroed surface RT with the availability of office on ipads. If he puts cortana on competing platforms they might as well never have bought Nokia.
For MS to be able to get into a dialogue with their customers and be able to float ideas to see what the response is from a part of their customer base is not a bad thing. It is valuable for the company and for us to be able to have input into the decision making process.
So I applaud them for it. It probably should be done in a very particular fashion, ie an overt statement of "hey we are thinking of X, Y, Z and wondering what you think of it". Pretty much how Marcus ended up responding to us. Unfortunately the internet has a very strong tendency to turn up to eleven at the drop of a hat and that makes dialogue somewhat difficult.
Personally I appreciate them coming out from behind the curtain and interacting, I think there's much to be gained from it.
I just hope they bring the website writing to Windows 8 too. I really don't like the crappy third party keyboards for Windows 8.
Exactly. Satya is all about enterprise. That's all he cares about and that's what Microsoft's major shareholders were sold on at board meetings. Why? Because enterprise is Microsoft's bread and butter.
Ballmer was no saviour for Microsoft's consumers by any means. But at least he threw them a few crumbs from the enterprise table every now and then.
Yup you maybe right but Ash's right in someway.If you don't show support to the majority then they will ignore you.Android and Ios has plethora of apps which is the only gap between them and Ios.Rest Camera Games and Hardware are all on par.But the problem is that people think that WS will not grow because of less apps i.e. less developer support.But if they extend some WP features then people might change their mentality about Windows Platform.But they should not provide all the features of these crucial apps.For example now see Moli Player in WP and Droid-
WP has Wifi Transfer feature and Droid doesn't(though Droid has other apps to do the same maybe Kies Air) but what i'm saying is that they should extend Cortana but not the whole Cortana.If people enjoy the features of Coratana on other Platforms then they will want to switch to WP for the exclusive features of Cortana that only Windows will have.
Why would a company put all its coins in a single and small pot ??
Microsoft should never put its services division at risk to try and save another division that is not doing so well.
If the "not doing so well" division sinks, the company as a whole would sink.
Thats really the worst strategy they could come up with. People that have a few coins would do that, people that have billions of coins probably would not.
Why would a company with 80% marketshare spend money developing a feature that still few people use for a phone that even fewer people have ?
Of course Google is right and Microsoft is wrong, but as far as i know Google Now is already available for iPhones and iPads, or are they not ?
Thats because they know, as some other people around here, that a digital assistant should not be trapped inside a platform.
As far as i know, Google maps is available for iPhone, pretty much all google services are available for iPhone.
Now why is Apple right ? It is a company that went in deep trouble in the past, and they still do what they did back there. Apple saved itself by innovating devices, never services or software. Why would anyone in its right mind ask for iTunes ?
It's good to see you are making an attempt at damage control, but the genie is out of the box. the remarks made should _never_ have been made and you (and MSFT in general) should have been smart enough to understand the implications of such remarks. Maybe you should engage in some serious media training as this is not an isolated incident. Especially in the llight of MSFT recently putting competing eco systems ahead of their own and in a continuous fashion the pattern of Windows (phone) being a 'hindsight' and afterthought seems to be the prevalent way of thinking and development now. iOS and/or Andoid development of Windows services apps such as Skype and Office are ahead and better then what we see on Windows Phone. All the big talk we heard during the WP8 Dev SUmmit two years ago seems to have been mostly air and 'if only we could go here'
Then a huge part of your world and you loyal user base gets treated to what could be a great and far reaching unique feature in Cortana only to have it (again) brought down again by a few lines of uncontrolled answers recently.
Except that a Ferrari has a complete different motor than a Fiat or any other component for the matter.
I do agree that on the mac price pretty much you only have mac selling so no competition.
But if you compare hardware, PC with same hardware of a mac sells considerably more.
The guy in the video is an idiot! Cortana is a major selling point to the Windows Phone ecosystem and if he thinks that adding it to other competitor's phone platform is going to help Microsoft, he needs to be terminated from his job immediately! In fact, if I could easily get Cortana and other Windows Phone experiences on iOS & Android, I would leave Windows Phone and never buy another Windows Phone device again!
It's kind of amazing that you guys (you Marcus) actually respond to a community like this. I appreciate your follow up on this. Thank you for caring about your customers/fans/loyalists. While I've learned to let live on whatever MS has done in the past, other consumers might not be easily convinced that WP is MS's primary objective. Your department may see WP as a 1st rate platform, other departments in MS have not shown otherwise. Skype (yes, who operates as their own entity -but still is owned by MS) has not given WP consumers faith in this "first class" treatment. There are other examples I'm sure you're aware of. -Don't get me wrong, it makes sense from a business perspective to release services where it'll make the most $$ in the long run (iOS/Android -where all the users are at) ... however, from a consumer standpoint, it shows a negative response to current WP/MS customers and to the "other users" on different platforms. The media (which we both know, we cannot control) is guilty of some of this negative response as well. Why would any consumer switch to another platform if 1st class services are on that platform already? Why would any consumers switch to WP if services are provided as 2nd class?
Now with that said, I understand that you have stated that your department is going to contribute to everything to the WP platform and possible to other Windows platforms in the future. What makes the rest of MS from doing this? At the current standing, WP consumers have felt rejected over the years...I've been with MS so long, I've stopped counting the failures and mistakes it has made with their mobile platform. I'm not that naive anymore to think that MS won't make additional mistakes with the platform. -Thus, this is why I believe we as WP fans have created this frenzy over the last few days about this.
-And I truly believe, that until MS decides to treat it's WP customers as 1st class citizens, I think the sentiment of persuing other mobile platforms for Cortana will not rest easy with us.
I apologize for this response. I am just stating what others and I have been feeling about the platform in general.
Thanks for your clarification and contribution to this community.
No, they dont.
Exclusive features (like a 41 megapixel camera) creates niche segments. Thats cool but it doesnt conquer the masses.
MS must keep the app store growing, trying to make phones cheaper, updating the OS with features a lot of people use/need, make the ecosystem better and give it time.
Very few people uses Siri/Google Now, specially outside US, both exists way before Cortana and it didnt stop WP from growing.
Why do people think that Cortana, as it is, is a game change for WP ??
Most people i see buying an android have never heard about a Windows Phone.
Most people i introduce WP ask me the price and if it has Whats App, Candy Crush,Instagram, Tinder, Facebook, Waze... not a single one asked me if it had a Siri or Google Now like app.
Most people i see that uses iPhones dont care about the rest, they just think Apple is amazing and that it is unthinkable to assume another phone could come close to what iPhone has to offer.
I think he is saying that Cortana is not a WOW factor outside WP ecosystem.
Dan already made a review comparing Cortana, Siri and Google Now. Cortana is good, might be better than Siri and Google Now but not by a huge difference. It is not likely a Google Now user will see Cortana and go crazy about it.
Everything that Cortana can do right now and Google Now cant is really not that hard to implement in a next Android update.
Microsoft knows this and they are already thinking in the future and how to make Cortana really shine. Cortana for iOS and Android is the right thing to do.
Never said it wont help WP sales. I said it alone wont make an iPhone user or Android to switch over to WP just because it is slightly better than the competition.
That doesnt mean a new user searching for a smartphone wont take Cortana into the equation when buying a phone.
Still, We have a LOT (and i mean a LOTTTTT) of users that uses Android and Iphones right now and will be searching for a video game in the future. If you have cortana in your iPhone or your Android, and if you do use it and find it awesome, chances are Cortana will help a decision on whether to buy an XBOX or a PS4. Thats pretty basic, really...
It was only the other day I was thinking how powerful it would be for all windows platforms to have Cortana... Capable of giving such a reach personal assistant experience that could practically revolutionize the industry... And make Microsoft (services and products) powerful. And then I hear this.... Microsoft needs not port anything to anyone to make it better... They just need to advertise... Don't show Cortana as a Windows phone product... Show it as a Microsoft product and how it can enrich your life when you have Microsoft devices working together....I don't have an iPhone but believe it when auto was first released and advertised I damn sure wanted one....finance was the only restriction
Nobody's going to look at Windows Phone anyway. The "differentiation" game has already been tried, and failed miserably.
Nobody's going to pick up a Lumia to get Cortana, since the Lumia doesn't have an app for their bank, the app for buying subway/ferry fares, the app for their AmEx card, the app for their health tracker, the app for their health insurance provider, and other basics.
Don't believe me? Go talk to sales people at Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, or T-Mobile. Get friendly with them and ask them the average return rate for Windows Phones -- they're 50% to 60% (super-high). Why so high? Because they don't run the apps people need and want. And in 2014, that's a serious problem. They're not going to get and keep Windows Phones for Cortana and Live Tiles if they can't do the basics -- and Windows Phone can't do the basics. It's deficient.
That's why you can pick up a new Lumia 925 from T-Mo at the liquidation sites for under $200. That's why Verizon is STILL selling unsold stock of the 928 for free on contract, along with unsold 8Xes. That's why Sprint hasn't bothered to launch any WPs that support its new Spark LTE network.
It's not even in the consideration set.
Bringing Cortana onto iOS and Android ensures that the technology lives and moves forward even as WP enters its death spasms.
TYPICAL MSFT..
THEY ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO MAKE THIS EXCLUSIVE,MSFT NEEDS TO SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS,CUZ THAYS WHAT THEY DO.
Let's just get right to the point.
Windows Phone is a failure.
Why is it a failure? Part of it is timing. When Apple passed Windows Mobile in 2008 and started taking over the world, Ballmer should have issued a memo in the same spirit as Bill Gates' "the Internet is changing everything" memo, and committed HUGE resources to winning in mobile.
Instead, he was arrogant and ignored the surging iOS and Android. The Windows Phone strategy has been a laughable disaster, in everything from hardware channel access to the parade of rather unimpressive handsets from Nokia and friends that simply aren't competitive. Add in a series of imbecilic carrier exclusives in the USA and no footprint in China, and WP simply is a statistical 0 in the two largest smartphone markets in the world.
Let's not even get into the fact that the OS has orphaned users in upgrade cycles TWICE in the last four years -- 6.X to 7.X and 7.X to 8.X.
As a result, the platform is basically a zombie. It lacks the basic apps that everyday people take for granted now -- like Citibank, and NY Waterways, and Jawbone UP, etc. No mainstream consumer is going to accept it except at a massive discount -- hence the money-losing Lumia 520 -- and even that is starting to fail as cheap Android devices like the Moto E gain traction in the same price range.
So what is Microsoft to do? With Windows Phone dying, and no real OEM support beyond a couple token handsets with no real sales, they've still got a lot of money to make with cloud services, as well as Windows PC and Xbox turf to defend.
Time to move all the good stuff onto Android and iOS, which they've been doing for a while. The OWA client (e.g. Windows Phone e-mail and calendar) is now on iOS and Android. Xbox Music and Video are on iPhone and Android. Microsoft Office is on iPhone and Android. Cortana and the others have to move there as well. Microsoft cannot allow their big integrated services to die along with Windows Phone.
PS -- if you think Windows Phone still has a ghost of a chance in the USA or China -- and that Cortana will get someone to adopt the platform at this point, given its severe usability and app deficiencies -- I've got a Lumia 900 to sell to you for $800. $100 bills only, please.
Thankyou for that detailed reply :)
I say bring it to other platforms as well since Microsoft is investing all this time and resources into Cortana.
It doesn't take a diehard WP fan to see this as a concession. The "what happens if you own a windows phone and android tablet question" undermines the move toward a formidable Ms ecosystem. Asking those kinds of questions hurts the image of your product and makes MS as a whole look desperate to ANYONE, Ms groupie or not. What in the world happened to the confident Redmond of the 90's?
Might as well bring it to other platforms. It'd make the product better and spread some goodwill for Microsoft.
Thanks for the question. It is a fine balance between getting things out that are good enough to be tested versus having the qualty be so poor that even our loyal customers and fans can't properly test it. I can say that given the amazing response of our customers around the world to the US developer preview, we are looking at all options to get Cortana out to customers around the world faster so they can help us improve her through usage and feedback.
"wouldn't it be a better option to test your product with more people? "
That's what he just got done saying they were going to do!
@Marcus, wouldn't it be a better option to test your product with more people? Surely it will be fine for a NA organisation to test its product in Brazil or India to enable usability, for locals! By creating NA only beta testings you are ruining the fun for the rest of the world. Statistics, damn statistics, NA, happens to be in the minority.
Tested win7&8, office 2010/13 betas without having to change my region, I miss Clippy. Its time someone needs to think out of the box! Resuming...... Ioading........ L625
Once they port cortana to ios and android it basically means microsoft have conceded to apple and google in the mobile space and they don't want to compete. I don't know how windows phone will grow at this rate when microsoft doesn't even show confidence in their own product. Dan you need to stand up for windows phone, this is wpcentral. We all love windows phone. Why give the prominent ios and android users more reason not to switch to wp? Good for microsoft: Maybe
Good for windows phone: No
Marcus, thanks for your response. I look forward to having Cortana on my Windows gaming PC in the future.
Next up, Windows live tiles coming to your android and ios. 2015. Bye wp!
Cortana can't be used offline.
Since I am the guy that made the initial Cortana on Android/iOS comments, I thought it would be good to jump in. And for those who wondered, yes people at Microsoft read these forums and comments because we care what our customers are saying.
First, as many commenters have pointed out, we have a lot of work left to do to make Cortana awesome on Windows Phone. We are in Beta and we are in the US and we know before we do anything else we need to scale and get Cortana out to more customers. This is our absolute top priority. This means actually launching Windows Phone 8.1 to our broad consumer audience through new phones and official updates. And getting Cortana to more countries as quickly as we can. What is being left out of the recap from these talks is that before the questions about Cortana on Android/iOS, we spent time talking about how important it is to get to more countries. Half of our customers in the Developer Preview are from outside of the US. That is amazing and is a testament to the strength of our community and the fact that we built something interesting.
Our top priority and showcase device for Cortana is Windows Phone. Any discussion or commentary about us giving up or abandoning Windows Phone is crazy talk. Our top priority is to make Cortana so fantastic that it pulls customers to Windows Phone. Period. No debate, no controversy, no throwing in the towel on our current Windows Phone customers or potential future Windows Phone customers.
After we push crazy talk about abandoning Windows Phone to the side, we have started THINKING about what’s next for Cortana. And again, this is about planning and thinking and wrestling with questions about what the future will bring AFTER we make Cortana awesome for Windows Phone customers around the world. Our product design and engineering resources are being applied to making Cortana awesome for Windows Phone. So what's next is about thinking and planning, not a statement of anything we are committing to do. And unfortunately none of us have a crystal ball so this is where we will be patient, see what is happening with our customers, talk to our community and do what we think will make the most sense for innovating through products that Microsoft customers use.
We are actively thinking about what it takes to expand Cortana to Windows devices. Nothing official to report but we want our Windows device customers to experience Cortana at some point in the future. And we want the experience to be fantastic which means you have to start thinking about how Cortana should work across multiple devices. Working fantastic and being the best end-to-end experience for customers that have all Microsoft devices will be the natural first step. Our ideal future state is going to be that a customer that has a Windows PC, Windows Tablet and Windows Phone has the absolute best Cortana experience. Period. Again no debate, no controversy.
As we THINK (again, this is about thinking, refer to the above about Windows Phone about what we have committed to DO where my team is spending design and engineering time) about the future, we want to figure out what we need to do so that a Microsoft customer who has a PC/tablet but a different phone can have a great Cortana experience. We THINK we will have lots of customers on PC/Tablet in this future state that haven't seen the light and come over to Windows Phone. And we want these customers to have a great experience because if they do and we show them an even better experience on Windows Phone, there is a better chance of having them to switch to Windows Phone. If they have a bad experience on a PC/Tablet, there is no chance they will consider Windows Phone. Like it or not (I have worked on Windows Mobile and Windows Phone for 10 years so I hate hate hate it...) we are a challenger in the mobile space. This means we need to consider ideas and alternatives to breakthrough and be flexible and adaptable based on what we learn as Cortana comes to Windows Phone customers. But to be 100% clear, this is only AFTER we build something so incredible that scales to more countries on Windows Phone (where we are spending our engineering/product time) AND we make it available to even more customers that have a set of Windows devices (which is where we are just beginning to figure out our approach.)
On behalf of my team, we love the passion of our Windows Phone community. You have done an amazing job of supporting us in the early days of Cortana and it gives us motivation to continue to build something great for you. There is no substitute for action so watch the next four months and you will see that we are dead serious about giving you the best personal assistant on any Smartphone, something so great that you will convince everyone you know to get a Windows Phone. And if that happens, then we can stop early future speculative talk about Android/iOS :)
Thanks again for engaging in a dialog.
-Marcus
Short sighted at best. The idea that people who can already use all of your services are suddenly going to find a reason to buy your gear to "match them up", which will gain them nothing in terms of the ability to use those same services, is ridiculous. It will do the exact opposite, it will encourage them to stay right where they are. I'm surprised these clowns didn't realease it to iOS first in beta and leave WP users hanging.
Nobody who has a phone that is happy with is going to drop it just because of one feature. You can get used to Cortana on your Windows 8.x etc. The idea is to make Windows Phone the next choice for a number of reasons. And these reasons as of WP 8.1 i am sorry to say got less not more.
MS jumped the gun and made concessions they shouldn't have. Their plan was working albeit very slow due to device turnover rates. There is absolutely no way to make it happen faster by becoming more like your competitors. By doing that, you lose all the difference you were making and you might as well make your own version of Android, skin it, and get over with it. They had exactly the amount of difference they needed, and with the additions they made in 8.1 (cortana, fancy screen, optimizations, notifications etc.) they could have been exactly what was needed. But not after removing and otherwise greatly altering main features of the platform.
You will never make a move if you already have the features they are offering to you. :) When what they are offering to you is no more an alternative, but a mere variation with an additional learning curve.
Say they give the other phone developers the ability to have Cortana on everything. Whats left for WP users? Live tiles and hubs?? its not that big of deal honestly unless your using it as a business phone. They dont have a bunch of crap apps in their store that make a phone easy to hack and easy to put malware on but they also dont have all the accessories either, nor do they have the ability to use a WP as a entertainment device. WP users will never have HBO, Cinemax, Starz. Xbox video is on the back burner for phone users as they have tons of problems with people trying to view their collections they got through XBox. MS Office and all the rest of MS suite programs are avalible to iOS and Andriod users but nothing on iOS or Android is avalible on WP with the exception of Google. Year after year I defend WP only to have MS move something else to other phone users. Its getting to the point of Why? Why must I give up entertainment and accesories for Live Tile and Hubs. I guess my next selection I will be an iDiot as well.
Did anyone notice cortanas change in response to the question which is is her favorite today? I believe we have our answer...dear Watson . +1020
Just thought id put this out there. If u asked cortana what the best operating system was last week she would say it was her of course or something smart about windows duh...now she simply says no one in particular or I don't think I can choose. Just conjecture here on my part but I believe good or bad that is our answer.
The only thing that made me buy a WP is that it's faster than low end androids. It's faster except some native apps like Skype... Oh yeah, I barely use Cortana, cause it's not faster to tell her something, WP interface is fast already.
Bringing it to other platforms is not a bad thing, but only if it's not for free but for a charge. Let's say a couple of dollars a month. It would generate some revenue, it would increase popularity for MS and WP, but all those iOS and android fans(who would never switch to WP) could still keep their phones synced with a PC.
It's funny, but I was under the impression that WP was growing on many markets and that things could only improve further with Microsoft fully backing the system. News like this leave the impression that MS it's throwing the towel on WP and shifting their priorities. Sad, very sad.
Sharing Cortana only makes sense when Windows Phone has significant market share. Why else give out an exclusive feature for free?
There's nothing special about WP anymore. Going back to Apple.
Then what's the point of using Windows phone? There's nothing special about WP anymore. Going back to apple, at least I will have more apps and a I phone with unique features!
Me : Which one is better windows phone or android?
Cortana : Oh, come on, chief. Windows phone
While the ratio is lower, there are more people in the us that use wp Tha others... (lets say 30000 wp in someplace and 20000 iphone, in us 100000 wp 300000 iphone) btw figures not accurate
This is the most sad news I have heard for quite sometime, Cortana should be exclusive,it should be on other platforms years down road but not now and when that happens it should be basic version that does not include all the great features that Cortana has,they should optimize our products for our devices first and foremost,Skype on other platforms rock,I enjoy using WP features and the smoothness of the OS but this won't help one bit,integrate Cortana fully into all of our products,IE,Windows 8.1 along with RT,Xbox One and other ms products ,give everyone the wow factor and you'll see the transition with the WP as best device to use Cortana with.
They are thinking way too far ahead,see how google released google chrome and have many extensions,we need more integration with our own ,then maybe market out Cortana to other OS with a subscription cost,if you check the windows phone store for apps released by Google Inc,most of what else you see are from devs themselves,
Experience can be better by purchasing Microsoft product
we have to remember Microsoft is a software company first and hardware manufacturer second. I dont see nothing with providing it on IOS or Android but must don2 things 1) provide it with a small fee 99c for the app (it wont be native, only to windows) 2) limited features compared to Windows phones. I think that's what MS should do provide as many services they want to other platforms at a price with limited features. if a person wants more they would have to consider switching and by doing that the services will be free and will come will more (all) features.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Well, I think it would be a better idea to let users on other platforms run Cortana for a limited time, say- 3 months. Register the demo period to the IMEI of the phone. That way everyone gets a taste...but if the want the meal, buy a WP.
I think people are confusing having Cortana on multiple Microsoft devices versus having it on every device. The answer in the video of how do you let customers that use Windows on their PC but also use an iOS and Android device is simple. You get them to switch their iOS and Android device to a Windows device. If you put Cortana on an iPhone, iPad, and any Android device, you devalue one of the main reasons to own a Windows Phone or Windows Tablet. It would be reason enough for me to try out other non Microsoft hardware.
Guess your wait ends here DJCBS. Its my 11th friend who's switching to WP, just because of Cortana this time (early 10 didn't swicthed for Cortana though, the preview wasn't released that time). You are free to ask for their Email addresses or facebook ID. And I do realize this "NAME" has a lot more weight than what people guage that's why it was never changed, not by Microsoft.
No, it doesn't. It can't tell jokes, sing a song, write complete text for me, set location based alarms, set appointments more precisely, know my interests, integrate with third party apps, and so on and on and on.... I won't call it a shallow decision either. It completely depends on the person's taste, work and living style. He's in a business and it helps him a lot in his work (he doesn't play with it).
LOL!
And Daniel don't have an answer for mase123987's comment.
:)
How? They're increasing their presence unlike BB, who had the same conceited attitude Apple has with a closed ecosystem (iUsers only). BB thought t they hardware keyboard was the end all be all similar to a lot of peoples attitude here what talking about Cortana. Well news flash: While Cortana is good, do people use her more often than texting, watching media, web surfing, or talking on the phone? No, despite all of the uproar in this forum, the fact is is that Cortana, Siri, and Google play are novelty item used the least about on mobile devices, however, Microsoft can change the way people use digital assistants, touch, etc by introducing the public to it. This really could convince people to try WP despite our self centered attitudes. Are we watching what's happening really? Apple has already filled a patent for a surface like keyboard, they've implemented continuity(does any of this sound familiar yet). They're trying to beat Ms at their own game; by being one dimensional, MS risks letting them get ahead as right now, Apple is behind both Ms and Google technology wise yet ahead in mobile device sales.
Definitely it will. We have really good examples.
Tired of these back seat C.E.O's that think they can run Microsoft better than Microsoft. They know what they're doing. They've been showing up people who been calling for their deaths since it's birth. I'm pretty sure they're going to keep doing just that.
Care to elaborate how?
Exactly.
They ain't thinking so. They already know about that and that's the reality as well... The problem is they are helping to stay with those devices longer.
No, evidently. But how'll giving out its exclusives to its direct competitors help either?
Agree with you. I really, won't see a single point how it'll do well for Windows Phone.
Exactly.
+720
Funny, its just the opposite in my experience.
If I can get all Microsoft services AND all iOS services on an iPad, but not vice versa, what reason would I have to buy a Windows tablet device? (The only thing that's saving them in that case is legacy software support, which is losing relevancy fast). This thinking only works in an open ecosystem, which iOS is most assuredly not.
LOL! Thanks for the laugh bro... after a long time.
lol
This website is called 'Windows Phone Central', and not 'Microsoft Central' :)
:(
Same exact thoughts, just waiting for Live Tiles in Android. There'll be nothing to look into WP anymore.
That's true. And that's why we see tons of Xbox, Kinect news
+1
It is true that Cortana on WP has small market share now. But not when it comes to W8 and Xbox one. It will become a dominant voice personal assistance instantly. It would definitely help to sell WP and W8 devices. Providing Cortana to the competitor machines is a suicidal move which will hurt entire Windows ecosystem short term and long term. It is a 'Surrender it All' move. MS won't get any financial gains by providing Cortana to the competitor OS devices. It is a feature and not a service. Cortana is potentially a critical game changer for WP which is so far behind on apps. Uinique features like Cortana and PureView are so important to attract phone buyers. Now competitors are starting to catch up on camera tech and Cortana becomes even more important to keep WP going. Strangely, MS now is talking about surrendering that to competitors before they release Cortana on WP. It is crazy. If MS is so concerned about fragmentation, they should then port Cortana to evey devices on earth including Playstations, firefox, Blackberries and even the Nokia feature phones.
MS should first make the Cortana work properly on WP and make it available to all languages. Otherwise, it could hurt themselves bad by loosing the WP base. WP is in its infancy stage. It is fragile and weak. The app gap is so huge that it will probably never to catch up the competitors. We hard core of WP supporters will eventually to realize it is probably not worth it. Above all, it is just a phone and not a religion. If we can find a phone that has all the nice features like Cortana elsewhere, ocean of apps and wide industry support. May be that's the phone we should get. It donesn't have to be a WP phone.
I mean to say Cortana should be a MS OS exclusive.
All of that analysis looks right to me but still does not answer the question that you posed at the beginning.
"Would the market cannibalization of Windows Phone software to be used on competitors devices generate more revenue for Microsoft? If the end game is for enterprise, yes it would and here's why."
1. How does Cortana "generate more revenue for Microsoft" by being on competitors devices?
All of the rest of that analysis is not an answer to the above question. How does Cortana generate revenue at all in any context is still a question, let alone help to generate revenue on competitors devices in support of enterprise.
The answer is PROBABLY mostly for Bing, which you've put in the consumer category, not an enterprise "endgame" or mission critical usage.
If they want to give Cortana to other devices, they should do it through the Bing homepage, like google now on google search. (but make it feel alot more ^premium^ than google now. Currently, google now seems and sounds like a web wrapper in the google homepage.
A service like Cortana doesn't have an option to reside entirely on the client. Too feeble and devoid of the context required for it to mature. ( or learn in the AI sense )
Again, you state that "Cortana will NEVER be the only reason for someone to buy a Windows Phone". I'd still like to see your proof of that statement. I will not deign to say what or will not be people's main motivation for doing anything, let alone say something NEVER will be their motivation.
Your argument is only based around the fact that the Developers Preview has been "released" about two months ago is still the premise around which you try to prove "Cortana will NEVER". That move right there should indicate how weak your argument is. How can one state that X never will occur if you've only looked at two months of data (and we don't have acces to it anyway at this point).
YOU CANNOT SAY "NEVER" about someone's potential motivation to buy. Your argument fails on that alone. The rest of what you think is a counter argument is still fluff, based on a "argument from ignorance" as the logical fallacy. Look it up.
My pointing out there is no data is only one part of my counter argument. My primary counter argument is to point out the logical inconsistencies of your position.
I still don't understand Microsoft's logic though. All I hear is that they've given up on Windows phones. Instead of convincing others to come to us, Microsoft has decided to go to them. Besides, I doubt most Android and iPhone users, especially fanboys, would even bother with Cortana because they have their own service that does pretty much the same thing. In other words, Microsoft is trying to make Cortana a whore.
Daniel,
On seekingalpha.com a contributor placed an article about this issue a few hours ago, you might find it interesting:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/2268873-should-microsoft-cortana-be-a-part-of-apple-and-android-ecosystem?uprof=45
regards
t
Don't try to use your own view to make the baseless conclusion. Many of my friends are also hardcore Halo fans, and they are so excited to wait for next WP flagship with Cornata. Their current phones are mostly iPhones and a few Androids.
theefman states
"So Cortana wont help WP sales but it will magically help Xbox sales by being on android and ios, why?"
to which Daniel responds
"theeefman I think that's a really poor analogy.
"Look at the console space in 2014. Who's the top? Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo (distant third). Microsoft already has, in many ways, the gaming thing locked down. It's there's too lose, not to win. The Windows Phone market space is vastly, vastly different. Microsoft is a distant third.
Xbox can only get better with Cortana and it will aid, slightly, sales. Maybe."
First, how does this response really suggest that theefman's analogy is wrong? Daniel states that WP market is "vastly different" than the situation for the Xbox One and points to MS's relative position in each market. However is this really an answer? So the position of WP in the market is different from the Xbox One, why does that mean Cortana could be a draw for the Xbox One and not a draw for WP?
It simply does not look like a compelling counter argument.
Plus I really don't think Daniel's statement "Microsoft already has, in many ways, the gaming thing locked down. It's there's too lose, not to win" is as accurate as he hopes. There's a reason why this years E3 for Microsoft was so strongly geared towards games. First, 2013's E3 was significantly geared towards the entertainment features of the Xbox One. Second, Sony emphasized the games and gaming potential of the PS4. Third, the PS4 has arguable a bit stronger graphics capability. Fourth, the PS4 has been selling stronger than the Xbox One.
That does not add up to "theirs to to lose, not to win". MS is in second place here and it would be nice to have the Xbox One in first. There is room for a stronger win here, not just slipping further behind.
Please note that in my analysis I am not being a PS4 fanboy, it simply is my analysis of the situation. As soon as I am sufficiently employed and with enough cash one of my first purchases is going to be a Xbox One.
good initiative, I agree with you for now. Let Cortana grow on W8 devices first, going cross platform is always possible at a later stage
regards
toraji
Mindshare....how do you become the new chick on the block everyone is talking about
I done even want to watch it. I don't want Cortana on any apple, google, amazon, blackberry or Symbian device(if they were capable).
That's like saying Nokia making Here+ maps available to other platforms is akin to giving away thier 41 megapixel camera technology. Comparing software and services to hardware makes no sense.
If they do this I will go back to another phone os
1. Why would google and apple allow siri on their platform?
2. Would it be capable of changing settings etc? if not wh bother interchanging between 2 assistants
And when you discuss politics at the local tavern, your representatives don't hear you either.
God, please give Ms a brain.
stay exclusive!
just like apple did, they just stay on their own course. ofc this will invoke lots of hate, but love as well.
someone who tries to be nice to everyone wont be truly loved!
stay on your own course microsoft and dont play nice to google or apple just to be in everybodies hands!
Apple has Siri and is not going to publish her in the MacBooks or iMacs, Android has Google Now and is not going to publish it on Linux's PC... I dont know why Microsoft is going to publish Cortana in other platforms
Simple, on other non-Windows devices (Kindle, iPads,etc.) have Bing be the light client for Cortana...
Well done, Dean Lewis!!!
Microsoft needs to put it's devices first. I have no problem with cortana being on ios or android but all updates and new features should be released to WP first. It should be this way with all of the other services too. This still allows others to use the services but gives WP an edge in attracting those who use those other devices to WP. For once a WP user will have special features before any other platform which will make other platform users jealous and may consider the switch because it appears their OS of choice is falling behind.
It will take time for microsoft to make Cortana release to their OSes first, then it will come to other platforms.
Until cortana is on par wit indigo on the personal assistant side like consistently saying my man when launch, logically resolving requests like set a timer for two minutes I think MS should hold focus on enhancements on the windows and xbox.
Who cares, enjoy your android
Windows 8 is past, Windows 8.1 update 1 is present. And it will come for sure.
This is ridiculous! I'm upgrading to the Pre3. Gotta love that webOS.
Seriously, I did love webOS though ;-)
LOL!
That isn't a reason for Microsoft to not go were the customers are. My only real problem with opening up Cortana, and no one has addressed it, is can Microsoft put enough differentiating features ( that consumers can see or they are worthless from a marketing perspective) to make up for the loss of Cortana? I'm not seeing anything that suggests that they can. Cortana may not be that killer app. But it is a consumer facing differentiator, something that windows phone doesn't have a lot of. Dan, you are right universal apps are great and so is a whole ecosystem, but why should customers care? It's not something that can be easily seen.
b23h,
The first rule of science is that what is true today may be proven wrong tomorrow with new data.
Presently, what I wrote is with 99% probability, the truth. Tomorrow, if new data shows the opposite, it may be rendered false.
You attempting to blow an argument based on futurology isn't a solid attempt either. You can't prove what I say is wrong because you ALSO don't have any proof of that.
Otherwise, for example, I can say "there's no medical cure for heart attacks". And you say "there is".
Based on the facts we're given today and what we know, what I wrote is the logical assumption that can be made based on them.
The dilemma for Microsoft is whether the cloud or the Windows OS is the future of the company.
They can release Cortana to iOS and Android, where it could play a big role in promoting MS services, such as Bing and Office, as well as other MS apps like Skype.
Or, it could be used as a USP for Windows Phone. For that to succeed, it would need to have considerably better features than the built in voice assistants on Android and iOS.
Well, I'll wait to meet the FIRST person that switches to WP only because of the NAME "Cortana".
Because the truth is, Google Now, for example, does the same things Cortana does. And Siri will eventually end up doing it too. So there's absolutely no logical reason for someone to pick WP only because of the name Cortana. But hey, when that person shows up, then I'll believe there's someone who does choices that shallow ;)
Looks like this idiot Marcus Ash is more concerned with the success of Cortana rather than the success of Windows Phone. Since Cortana is already better than Siri and Google Now then why try to make it better now at the risk of the platform? This topic should only be considered 5 years from now only if Windows catches up to the competition. Until then even considering as an option makes no logical sense to me whatsoever.
I hope it wont be like skype with the beat experience in o
ios and the worst in wp.
I'm actually shocked and surprised by all of this. I read some of these comments first before I had a chance to watch the video and by the vibe of the commenters, it is a fairly negative reaction. After watching the video, which I entered into with a bias due to those comments, I find myself actually considering the idea. He stated it very well. Here is our priority. Windows first. If Cortana is MY Digital assistant,I want her to help me with every facet of my life. I just happen to own all things windows so its not really gonna affect me, but he's right. For those people who have other devices, how does she know about what you do on those devices of she's not on those devices to watch? I don't have an answer to that. Cortana is not just a digital phone assistant, but she is going to be MY digital assistant ( or my moms who owns an iPhone) if that means expanding Cortana to other OS's if they want a real digital assistant, then I'm leaning towards that. Perhaps the resolution to this is Cortana is free with a Microsoft OS, i.e. Windows phone, windows and Xbox ... But subscription based for other OS's. That might quell the masses. Either way, Microsoft, keep should what your doing. I love the ecosystem. I love the monthly os updates to the Xbox one and to windows phone 8.1 and i hope it continues even after at&t releases their official update to the 920.
Goto this site and cast your votes http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
And one more thing. Check that MS Cortana manager, he may be an insider.
Simple... I'm gonna buy an android Cortana phone. Hope that sounds good to Microsoft.
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
Cortana is maintained and updated on the back end, so no worries having one platform updated before others.
"how good is the Windows Cortana experience going to be if it doesn't know anything about what I'm doing with those devices?...But how do we get Android users or these other iOS users that use Windows to have a great experience?"
Answer: Enhanced Bing Experience.
Improve the Bing software by adding calendar access, location tracking, interest tracking, and other relative information access, then syncing that information with Cortana. That way, when you use her on your PC or Windows Phone, she'll be in sync with what you do on your iPad or Android device.
Don't make your assistant work for other platforms. Make other platforms' assistants work for you. Turn Siri and Now into agents for Cortana.
I think the real question should be can Microsoft add enough to differentiate windows phone if they open up Cortana, and if not is it worth killing Windows phone? And is it worth pouring money into an os that is a firm third place? I hate to say it but Dan is right these are hard questions. I still feel that opening up Cortana WILL kill Windows phone because Microsoft doesn't have a good track record of adding differentiating features. I have not seen any data that proves differently. IF and ONLY IF Microsoft can prove to me that opening up Cortana will NOT kill Windows phone will I agree it's a good idea. Windows phone is a great OS, but you can't just remove differentiating features, no matter how poor they are and expect to leave your platform with enough strength to stand on its own unless you've got new goodies to put in. Just my two cents
Talking about Microsoft and championing the idea to make WP a me too device is different. Google has google now and google apps. Apple has Siri, message and other things. What will WP have? I will be able to have everything Microsoft offers on the other platforms. My 1520 will probably my last WP.
I get the let's sell services, but Cortana is free. If they take it to competitors eco systems and make it work just as well, they will effectively make the competition stronger. Since those other phones have a higher user base Microsoft will then devote more time to improving.... The competition and their own product will lag behind. In fact people will start leaving because other mobile OS get more priority. Bringing it to the surface or just windows in general is good.
I TOTALLY HATE IT!
And for those who dislike the ideia, I've just added a suggestion in Windows Phone Feature Suggestion site.
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/6053365-do-not-release-cortana-to-ios-and-android
PLEASE LET'S VOTE!
Microsoft is a software company and they still hold tight to selling their software anywhere they can.
MS will erode their own platform strength forever more it seems.
But, in the long run that has worked for them. So I can see why nothing is really platform exclusive to windows.
Why would anyone want to buy into the windows ecosystem if they can get all the services elsewhere? Cortana should be an exclusive windows feature.
Considering this is a WINDOWS PHONE forum, how do you expect the majority of people here to be ok with this? MS services everywhere will do nothing for the growth of the platform for which this site is meant.
Cortana is US only because it's in beta. They have to work out the bigger issues and tweaks before spending time to localize it. That said they are working on bringing it to some other countries at the moment.
There is zero appeal to an Android or iPhone user to switch to WP if all of WP services and features can be found on the current platform. It is that simple.
The reasons I stay in Microsoft Ecosystem are: Office, Skype, Xbox and now Cortana. Microsoft has essentially made it hella easy for me to fully switch to ios and osX. I have an iPad coupled with a windows phone, and a PC. Now I can have an iPad, a LG G3 and a MacBook and I still keep my free Microsoft services. Sweet. Motorola watch and google now, here I come.
Microsoft has one huge problem. They aren't putting enough faith in what they've got. Wtf should they care about iOS or Android? Do Google and Apple care about Microsoft, Windows, or Windows Phone enough to go out of their way to put their unique software in the hands of competitors? They answer is no because they're not effin stupid. Microsoft needs to double down on their own platforms and operating systems. They've need to advance their innovation. And they absolutely have to create products that aren't just another smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, etc. They need to create THE SMARTPHONE. THE SMARTWATCH, THEY TABLET. If they do that they won't even need to let the silly idea of putting their most valuable properties in the hands of their competition.
Push out Cortana only to Windows devices. Keep going on apps to catch up Android and iPhone. Windows is getting better each time and on my understand is a matter of time to kick both Google Chrome and Apple Maverick OS. I love the concept of a 2 in 1 machine. It's a capacity either Google and Apple lack. Plus the fully potential start screen and the all new and different Bing. If you catch up on apps it won't be hard to choose between the similar OS Apple and Google or the ask new one device for everything in your life. But meantime Microsoft needs it products with an exclusivity feature like Cortana and the start screen. It's my opinion.
If Microsoft ever wants Windows Phone to be anything the the niche player that it is, is *must* bring something compelling to Windows Phone that is not available elsewhere. Cortana is that thing. Bring it to other mobile platforms would be a tragic mistake. Are people going to trash their Windows PC and go Chromebook or MacOSX because Cortana is not on their Android or iOS mobile device? No chance. So maybe you bring a seriously dumbed down version of Cortana to Android/iOS as a bone you throw to your Windows desktop customers (who now you care about but why aren't you still investing in the dev platform for desktop?), but some set of the most compelling features must be exclusive to Windows Phone. Fail to do that, and Windows Phone continues forever as the 4% market share laggard that it currently is.
Eric
Not is not the same. Google flooded the market with Android, is an OS. Then Google is using its services to gain more market shares with its services. But Windows PHone has practically so little market with its OS. Do you think people will even bother with MS Services when they are already with iOS or Android? You are just being as naive as Microsoft here.
Because we can now also enjoy MS services practically on EVERY single major OSes, while we Windows Phone users still can't enjoy Google services fully on Windows Phones? Now, what perks do we have for being staying with Windows Phones since Android / iOS have bigger and more mature app supports, and we can still enjoy MS services at the same time too? Why do we even still need to support WP anymore?
I watched the video..... Sorry .. But... I don't feel the love of this guy to the Windows environment!
Nice points......
You guys called for Ballmer's head, "Well here's Satya"! At least Ballmer knew the value of holding on to a feature for a while before migrating it to others to gain an advantage even if it was for a short period of time. How do you guys feel about Satya now???? He should at least let it be exclusive even if it's for a specified period of time, but to give it away before its out of beta stage...... Really
I would love to have the ability to have Cortana manage my various devices. From my phone: "Cortana, can you turn off my desktop" From my desktop: "Cortana, do I have any new text messages?"
Cortana as a faux AI could be the one differentiating feature with the other OS and not just on the phone. It depends on how advanced they can get Cortana. Having Cortana do things on your apps via voice or even programed from your voice ("Cortana, open Epicurious and search for chicken dishes when I arrive home after 5pm") that you would normally have to physically input yourself I think would be the next evolution and is a natural step towards input for the Internet of Things. If they can get it to that level then they should not release it on other platforms. To answer the postulated question then: that person would ditch the Kindle and the Android b/c it provides a sub-par experience.
Consumers get what they want rather than adapting what they have. That is why they are consumers. Change what they want and they will get it.
You really think those are the factors that Congress to ones mind before buying a phone. Really iPhone 6 will have retina display. You could always download a file manager from store. You are a fool. It will easily beat 930 in benchmark test.
My question is how does this benefit Windows Phone?
Here's much better thing to do: Make Cortana available for 1.5 Billion Windows users (i.e. not just US) and improve it to be a complete Digital Assistant.
Nope it doesn't change my view on how I feel about the likelihood of Cortana being offered on other mobile platforms... I hate the idea
I'm tired of all of the cloud-services first bull crap. I understand prioritizing one area of their business first, but the other part of their business should come second, not apple or Android second. Apple and android should be right after all MSFT products. I'm fine with them making stuff for other platforms as long as they get it done correctly on their own platform first.
I think this is a very positive thing and will push Microsoft that bit further in being the company that cares about their customers. Even though they want their customers to have the full Microsoft ecosystem they also understand this isn't going to happen for alot of people. As it states, someone might have a windows phone and a kindle, or a surface and an android phone so allowing a very good personal assistant over all would be amazing, and proves Microsoft cares about the customer experience even if that customer isn't using the full Microsoft ecosystem.
Yes and they passed on the offer. As a matter of fact, Microsoft tried to offering the same deal it had with Nokia to blackberry...... They passed and look where they are now!
Good point. I don't think it will even be allowed on other OSs just because of the intrusive nature of these voice assistants. The programs need Access to nearly everything on your phone, emails and all
Sorry! I don't understand the frustrations of some people here in this forum, should i say most people. I for one, ABSOLUTELY like the new Microsoft. The path it's taking. And I fully support them. The fact that Dan has to defend this is, to my opinion, is just totally unnecessary. it is easy to earn respect from people who already respect you. the fact that the office suite is available on other platforms won MS praise from all quarters. I love the fact that MS services are totally platform agnostic. whether it is Office or for that matter, Cortana. That IS the future. Focussing on "your" platform alone do not make the cut, in the long run. I personally would love to interact with Cortana, say for that matter, on my PC at work, talk to her on my iphone, ask her for help on my work phone (say if it's Android or blackberry ;) ), Surface on the go and a Mac at home. That's what a personal assistant should do or the idea behind it should be. I am so happy that MS thinks about Cortana this way and not the other way around. Imagine MS beng the first in future having services available across all platforms and Apple and Google trying to catch up. THAT is the future I dream of. "You" may not see it now...but the future MS enthusiasts and fanboys will surely talk about this with high regards.
Just my opinion.... and not sucking up to Dan... :P
Dude, you guys should just wait and see what 8.2 brings. What disappoints me most about all of you is that we've been been using the fact that apple and Android have outdated and static icon based OS's vs our live tiles... Soon to be interactive tiles, yet because Cortana might grow beyond WP, suddenly the dynamic OS is equal to the two static ones (ios/android). If people like the features their being shown on their current platform by Microsoft, they would then have a reason to give MS another go as it was probably abandoned in the past to give Apple or Android a shot due to their technological advancements at the time as opposed to MS tech back then
I actually agree with you. I have used Google now extensively and would still pick Cortana's functionality over it. But then again, if MSFT's cortana can move to other platforms and perform exceptionally well, by integrating user's experiences across their multiple devices, then the platform (WP & WIN8) in general will regain that cool techy'ness that draws people to an OS. Imagine if Cortana on ur iPhone pops up to tell you that gamer XXX whom you raced against on your Xbox one is in the same café with you..
The only arguement for which people have taken the entire comment section with more puzzled answers.
I agree. Did they forget that their job is to make money? They need to keep their eye on the ball.
Hello!? Giving away your competitive advantage? Classic MS move, but any business student will disagree!
Being unique is the reason why it should transcends WP and windows and morph into other platforms. If she's unique, purple get a taste of the tech Microsoft is making and might be tempted to try the ecosystem. I recently convinced a devote iPhone user to purchase a 1020 and she loves it for the OS itself, not Cortana, but its "technical simplicity"; I coined this phrase for WP because it's more technical than IOS and Android yet simpler to use! I don't get all of the,"how do I do this" questions since I distributed WP phones in the work place. I also helped a user upgrade a Lumia 520 to 8.1 and guess what.... Since seeing the features a simple phone like the 520 has, now his wife who uses an iPhone wants one.
Cortana in it's current state is not a reason why a person would switch from iOS/Android to WP. Frankly, I can't imagine what the experience would have to be to cause a material amount of users to switch. Google Now and Siri are amazing in their own right so the only way others are going to experience Cortana is to make it available on other platforms.
I believe that the largest opportunity for Microsoft to grow at the moment is within the emerging markets. The strategy of making its services available on other mobile platforms is the only viable strategy left to attract users in mature or saturated markets. I say this because in cases like the US, the battle has been lost and there is no catching up beyond incremental changes each year. It is such an emotional decision to switch smartphone OSes. One way to alleviate the trepidation is to already be comfortable with the services like Cortana, Office, OneNote, OneDrive, Skype, Lync, Xbox smartglass etc. Making the switch becomes that much easier when u know that your core favorite apps are coming with you.
Do you want Skynet? Because, this is how you get Skynet.
What about us? How do we know Cortana is the best if we don't get Siri and GNow on WP? It has to be both ways for it to make any sense
Expand Cortana's capabilities, expand users' consider and familiarity with the Microsoft way of doing things. That'll being more WP buyers down the road.
I don't know what to say.. Cortana is great it can be given to other platforms it's Microsoft's wish.. But won't ask persons then purchase android or ios ... Some kind of feeling like i lost the hope of Microsoft losing its uniqueness brings same Skype on ios and windows phone and even the office improved head been given to android... Now Cortana.. It's Microsoft wish of course but i feel dead and left alone with restrictions alone on WP when all have what Microsoft offers and their exclusives...
I think it's a smart move to expand Cortana to other platforms. Windows Phone will not live or die by Cortana, it'll depend on people buying into "the Microsoft way" of doing mobile, i.e. metro, live tiles, etc. Cortana is, essentially, just an app. A very well-integrated, very smart app, but at the end of the day I'm not buying an android phone for Google Now, just as people don't but iPhones for Siri and people don't but Windows Phone just for Cortana. People choose a phone because is the way that phone presents stuff visually and through user interface-- the experience. And, too, what their friends and family are using. Getting more core MS apps and services or there (Office, IE, Cortana, etc) can only help get people used to "the Microsoft way" of doing things, which is a good way to in turn increase the chances someone chooses a Windows Phone next time around.
MS wins but us WP users lose because the platform doesn't grow and we remain second class citizens in terms of the app gap.
Region change trick can give you Cortana right now
You're incorrect on this one. Cortana's data is locally stored only. MS was very clear on that.
Exactly. Just look at Skype. Cortana could end up being one more reason people DON'T buy a Windows Phone. If MS wants WP to actually sell, they need to stop giving away all their exclusive features and push the unified ecosystem. I definitely think Cortana should be aware of what's happening on those other devices, but she should only be available on Windows devices.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? If they want a better experience they should SWITCH to WP! That's the whole idea. Cortana is for Windows devices only. Android doesn't make apps for us, why should we make apps for them?
No, it still is after Cortana.., ;-)
It doesn't diminish the value of the phone itself, but it does diminish the value of the ecosystem. If people can get all the benefits of WP on a different platform, then why should they bother to switch to WP. If people aren't going to switch to WP, the ecosystem continues to be treated as a third rate ecosystem getting whatever bones are thrown to it... and without growth, those bones may stop coming.
Why should he mind - this is the comments section right. What, if you don't agree with Microsoft you're a blasphemer?
Rose due to refresh, not because they were not declining. Mac peak was i n 2011 q4. How is that growth.
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Get a windows phone problem solved...the object is we're where you should be. Cortana is one of the many reasons why.
Microsoft needs to use Windows as the advertisement platform for Cortona. Make it device aware so that when your mobile device (IOS or Android) is connected to a Windows device via Bluetooth or cable it knows reasonable info on and about that device. If you use Bing as an app or on the web it is aware of you searches. However to take Cortona with you on your phone and to have an integrated experience across your devices you need the Windows ecosystem of devices. You will already be mobile if you have a Windows Tablet. Microsoft will need to focus on marketing there software products and not rely on 3rd party vendors to do that for them. We should be seeing Cortona related commercial's now. We should see commercials demonstrating experiences using the Windows Ecosystem.
Are they also live tiles that don't update properly as with WP? ;-)
Well, first they need to release it on WP. Having it US only (or US + 2 countries) is just the short sightedness that makes WP struggle so much. Sometimes I think Microsoft want to fail, it can't be accidental.
Any word when Cortana is coming to UK?
Microsoft should give them a limited experience. And do it so that when it reaches a certain number of downloads, it is removed. Call it a beta test. People who use it will like it. People who can't use it get jealous. Then buy a Windows phone. Also remove the beta test after a few months. Make it Ios and WP only
And for the same reasons should work fine on any platform, ios, Droid, whatever.
I don't get all the fuss few months back with One Microsoft. Where is this "one" thing? They still behave like a group of different companies competing with each other. There's no push towards windows phone. Why the hell they even made WP if they don't have faith in it? Lets make WP like android. With action center and games on app list... I wonder when we will get widgets. What's the point of 3 oses if they are the same? Microsoft, just delete your WP project. It's some kind of unwanted child for you, you want to leave it in a car on hot day anyway. There's no competition on WP phone market anyway and Nokia stalled with phone development. This whole ecosystem is going down, and XBone not helping either.
It's not absurd as most likely, like the enhanced start menu, they'll save Cortana to be a Windows 9.x and use it as a reason for 8.x users to upgrade next year.
How? By giving Siri to other platforms?
Fine, that's really a plus for WP. But how's porting Cortana to iOS / Android changes people's mentality to choose WP over those?
They'll, in contradiction, and most probably remain intact with their devices. They'll keep believing MS would continue provide features that WP originally had to them in future (even that's what they're still doing now).
Agree, Microsoft may move forward (if they allowed Cortana to use Bing) but for WP, its a one step backward.
Not sure what you exactly mean by this.
I've been stewing over this all night here at work..and I think I've over reacted a little...so S
My apologies Dan...
The issue I have is how now is just far will they allow Google to use Cortana to data mine and whose going to be transparent enough to say that they (Microsoft) won't change their stance to allow the same on WP or Windows desktop ?
If Google can't get their greedy advertising hooks into it,they sure as heck won't allow it full functionality...IOS...seems to me a no brainer to fully utilize the algorithims in Cortana over that of Siri..Once they do it's lights out and Billy bar the door..
They want folks on other platforms to get the full experiance of Cortana on those devices...well...Apple will take it...polish it more till it outshines anything and folks won't give a tinkers dam to ever switch platforms...they will have everything to move them well ahead of Android and...well... Android users won't be able to use it as we will now namely because Google will keep that from happening provided Microsoft doesn't allow them to change the functionality of it..If they do relient and change this..then our PC's running Windows will be at serious risk to their underhanded tactics..
So...if you want folks to use Cortana with their PC's...they better make sure they don't cave in and follow Googles lead,otherwise...that 8% of the market that uses Macs...I would expect those numbers to increase drastically and take more market share away from them
If MS makes Cortana non-exclusive to Windows devices and apple releases a larger device I for one will be taking a long look at the next iPhone. What reason will they have compelling people to buy WP?
It has outside US.
I guess, I get the frustration here. And feelings are subjective and can be easily mis-quantified. So there's no use of pulling facts here and there... This "feeling" is as if listening that the you don't get served in the restaurant that you've waited sitting for an hour, when someone who came 5minutes ago get served and its someone you hated. The general consensus here, its too early to discuss about cross platform integration when the platform itself and its affiliates haven't got it yet. It is hard when you're loyal to the underdogs, when the underdogs prioritize the their competitors. Then again, its only a feeling. Not a fact yet. It hasn't happened yet. It's a premature discussion of who is supporting who. At the end of the day, its all about revenues and profits... Just my two cents, peace guys.
they are delusional IM sure right now both apple and Google are working on some thing better than Cortana as we speak, plus their stupid at ms Cortana and Google voice as well as apple working as main voice assistants cortana on google or android wont work as well as google on google and apples on apple, finally it aint even finished yet on windows product yet
I don't know if someone has asked this (sorry I couldn't read all 800+ comments) but, will Google and Apple even allow cortana, since it competes directly with siri/G.Now?
Devices and the Cloud. Not WP devices and the Cloud.
there happy with being third, or they have apple and android envy, or they don't have faith in windows phone, and is saying that when windows fails at least well be on the winners team, Now that Microsoft own Nokia we can focus on making android phones, Microsoft has a crush on android , they are secretly betting on android, they are trying to negotiate with terrorist, people that are sabotaging windows phone and windows 8, etc
Makes sense for one sense only.
That doesn't meant that they should make their services worse on Windows phone which is their own OS. If they don't step it up by the end of the year then I'm changing to a different os.
+10000000000
Google Now is nothing against Cortana. This is coming from a guy who's used and tinkered everything with Google Now a LOT. Though he (Daniel) didn't mention Google Now in this comment but he kept prasing it everywhere else. I'm surprised reading such comments about Google Now, knowing, he did make a YouTube video "Cortana vs Siri vs Google Now battle" and we clearly saw the differences.
Get money or Reputation/Respect this depends on MS.
I'm about ready to give up on windows phone, give Microsoft's lack of support for the product.
Kinda like leaving us to better improve Europe markets....since there stronger;
This is a shit idea! Ppl never gonna shift to windows phone is vishva m Cortana is made available for android and iOS!
It's better to be a good guy Microsoft and offer services to other platforms but save the best parts for your own, MS! WP needs to have unique features that other platforms don't have while offering the same services on all platforms for interoperability. Offer Bing as an app as much as you want but don't give away Cortana which is another interface/method of interaction for Bing. It should exist only on WP as a unique feature!
What else is going to draw non-techie normal people to the platform? OS architecture? The NT kernel? Can those make people jump and run to stores to buy your phones? If your phone can do that and my phone can also do that, why should I spend money and buy your phone? I already don't have much unique features compared to iOS or Android to persuade people into buying WP.
And then, I would shoot myself to dead if Cortana appears on iOS and Android via software update earlier than it appears on Windows 8 or Xbox One. Given that Cortana is a server based system and our phones only displaying HTML5 data, why can't they release it in a software update on iOS/Android? Given MS' track record of releasing touch-first Office on iPad and planning to release it earlier on Android than Windows, it is a possibility. Maybe next year, they will also release Start Screen and Live Tile API as a launcher on Android. Then again, it will be working better on Android than on WP (eg. Skype)
Instead of this, they should be partnering with non-Google AOSP Android OEMs to load Bing and other MS services by default just like Google does on their phones. This will get them much visibility and usage and also marketshare that they desire.
Yesterday I thought no chance should Microsoft ever give this to iOS or Android, but now I am starting to understand the complexity of the question "Should they?"
Microsoft really has got a difficult decision to make.. It does seem to make sense to tie other OS users into a Microsoft product. There other question is will companies like Google go for it?
Agree. Skype sucks in my Lumia 720 while it rocks in my Xperia C, for example.
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