At Last, Microsoft opens up its Cortana for iPhone beta

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At last Microsoft is getting ready to let iPhone users test a version of Cortana for iOS. The software maker has been steadily testing the app over the past six months internally, and it has now reached the stage where it's ready for outsiders to preview. "We want help from our Windows Insiders to make sure she's a great personal assistant on iOS too," explains Microsoft. "We're looking for a limited number of people to get their hands on an early version of the app."

Microsoft is accepting sign ups for the Cortana iOS beta, and it will be limited to those in the US and China initially. Not all of Cortana's features will be available on iOS, and "hey Cortana" is not supported just yet. Cortana for iOS looks just like the Windows 10 Mobile and Android equivalents, and works in a very similar way. It's not clear if Microsoft plans to link Cortana to its Outlook and OneNote iOS apps before the final release later this year, but the beta will support reminders, scheduling events, and sending emails. If you're interested in signing up for a preview of Cortana for iOS then Microsoft has a survey to complete before download links are made available in the coming weeks.