Microsoft announced this week that Cortana, its voice assistant that it rolled out a year ago on Android and iOS devices in the U.S. and more recently in the U.K., can now be seen on the Android lock screen, giving users the ability to glance at information about their day.
In a press release announcing the feature, Microsoft said with Cortana on the lock screen of Android devices users can get information such as commute times and reminders as well as the ability to add alerts. What’s more, Microsoft announced that both the Android and iOS apps are available in Australia, extending the functionality of Cortana on Windows 10 to whatever type of smartphone a user carries to help stay on top of things. Earlier this month, Microsoft said it also brought the refreshed design of the app to iOS in the U.S. and introduced the app to the U.K.
“The more simplified look and feel for the apps makes it faster and easier than ever before to get things done with quick actions, putting the most frequent things you do front and center, so setting a reminder or viewing your reminders is just a tap away when you don’t want to use voice,” Microsoft said.
Some of the features include reminders that travel with the user on their device. Cortana, according to Microsoft, can keep track of things users have to remember across all the platforms they use and lets people set a reminder on their PC and get it on their phone. The Cortana app also prevents users from missing a call because Cortana can send a text back when a call is missed on a Windows 10 PC, telling the caller that the user will get back to them. Microsoft also said Cortana is designed specifically for the mobile life with quick-action buttons and voice as well as a streamlined design and widgets for Android and iOS devices.
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