Remember that some time ago, when Microsoft has launched Cortana a update al Windows 10, we all wonder how can we disable Cortana? I wrote about how can we hide Cortana from TaskBar at the beginning of the year 2015 and many users did this. Sign that at that time, the virtual assistant did not show much interest. However, with Anniversary Update, Microsoft did not allow the uninstallation of this virtual assistant.
From then until today (the end of 2019), Microsoft has not innovated much to Cortana's virtual assistant, and Crab (Apple) and especially Google Assistant are much more advanced. They really learned to talk to users, provide relevant information and control applications and utilities.
Microsoft didn't just stop at the operating system Windows 10, and in January 2017 and January 2018 respectively, Cortana was launched for Android si iOS. It seems, however, that it was not a good business for Microsoft to develop this application for third-party operating systems outside the company.
A recent article by Microsoft tells us that Cortana Assistant will be removed from Android and iOS starting January 31, 2020. Cortana will be present as part of productivity applications Microsoft 365, and the orientation of the development of the virtual assistant will be for business and office. Let's be honest, for "home users", Cortana didn't really make sense.
Those who have used Cortana on Android and iOS, starting with the aforementioned date, will no longer have access to reminders and notes from the Cortana or Microsoft Launcher application on Android and iOS. This information will be synchronized in the Microsoft To Do application, which is free and can be installed on all devices.
To make your personal digital assistant as helpful as possible, we're integrating Cortana into your Microsoft 365 productivity apps. As part of this evolution, on January 31st, 2020, we’re ending support for the Cortana app on Android and iOS in your market. At that point, the Cortana content you created – such as reminders and lists – will no longer function in the Cortana mobile app or Microsoft Launcher, but can still be accessed through Cortana on 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.
Therefore, only Cortana users will have access to Cortana Microsoft 365. Which means that the virtual assistant is only available for Enteroutlet / Business.
If it is a good or bad step, we will see in the future. At the moment, there is no drama globally. Over the years, all major companies have withdrawn services and applications, which were soon replaced by more capable ones.
