Recently, Foursquare received $15 million in funding by the Redmond giant to help them become a sustainable business and in return, they’ll help Microsoft with their products and services. A recent report from Bloomberg suggests Microsoft’s recent investment in FourSquare will be used in location data and services in the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1, including the voice-assistant Cortana to help push out tips, discounts, and suggestions based on user’s location on the go.
Microsoft didn’t reveal anything about the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 or the Cortana voice-assistant, and how they’ll work, along with their official launch date, but Microsoft Zig Serafin told Bloomberg, “We’re building some contextually aware experiences to power some upcoming products in Windows Phone. This will be for anywhere you get a Bing-powered experience.”
Bloomberg also reports Cortana will be a part of the Windows Phone 8.1 — like we didn’t already know this — and will launch within “several months,” citing sources familiar with the project and Foursquare agreement. Several months could mean anything, but in another sense, it could be correct as it will take a few months for the Windows Phone 8.1 to reach all devices — as Microsoft already confirmed that Windows Phone 8 devices can be upgraded to WP8.1.
In terms of launch, Microsoft is rumored to unveil the Windows Phone 8.1 OS in the coming months, possibly at the annual BUILD 2014 conference which will take place in April. Several rumors suggest WP8.1 will hit RTM in March, with the developers getting access to it in April followed by its official public launch in the following months. When it comes to Cortana, a rumor suggested it will see the light of the day in April and will be available in US only, at least in the beginning, but you never know, Microsoft may have planned some surprises for its users.
Further reading: Microsoft, Windows Phone
