After releasing a Cortana app for iOS and Android three years ago, Microsoft has recently brought the digital assistant to other Microsoft apps such as Skype or the new Microsoft Launcher. The next step in that strategy to make Cortana ubiquitous could be integrating the assistant within the Outlook app for iOS and Android, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Microsoft is testing Cortana integration directly within Outlook mobile that will work over Bluetooth and read messages aloud,” The Verge is reporting today. “Users will be able to ask Cortana phrases like “what’s my email,” or just to read messages from specific contacts.” Microsoft is reportedly testing these Cortana voice commands within Outlook internally, and the company may soon release it to beta testers to get more feedback.
The news comes just a couple of days after Javier Soltero, the Microsoft exec who used to be in charge of Outlook on all platforms became the company’s new Cortana VP. Outlook is already one of the most popular third-party email clients on iOS and Android, and bringing Cortana voice commands to the app could really push it to the next level.
Do you think integrating Cortana within Outlook for iOS and Android could push more consumers to choose it as their main email client? Let us know below.
