Microsoft discontinuing Cortana on Android and iOS in some countries

The personal digital assistant competition is shifting yet again, though not with a new competitor. Microsoft has announced that Cortana, its answer to the likes of Siri and Google Assistant, will no longer be available as a separate app for Android, iOS, or the Microsoft Launcher.

This does not mean that Cortana is going away, however. Microsoft also announced that the digital assistant will be integrated into Microsoft Outlook and other Microsoft 365 software. The reasoning given is to ensure that Cortana is "as helpful as possible," with the support article going as far as to call the integration an "evolution."

As a part of this change, any user created reminders, tasks, and other information will not be available via Cortana or the Microsoft Launcher. Instead, lists, reminders, and tasks will automatically be synchronized to the free Microsoft To Do app available via Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web.

So far, the announcement of this Cortana dedicated app discontinuation and Microsoft 365 integration has only been made for the following countries: Australia Canada China Germany India Mexico Spain United Kingdom

For those countries, Cortana will no longer be available on the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store, or any future version of the Microsoft Launcher after January 31st, 2020.

Further coverage: Microsoft support article MSPoweruser Windows Central The Verge