Microsoft Cortana for iOS Hits Canada in Beta for English Users

Microsoft’s virtual assistant, Cortana, has been available for Windows users in Canada, but iOS users have been left waiting, until now.

Ten days ago, Microsoft quietly launched Cortana support for iOS users in Canada. Users who installed the November 20th update were greeted with a message that read “Thank you for trying this Beta version of the Cortana app for Canadian users. French language support is coming soon.”

In order to use Cortana, you need to sign in with a Microsoft account. According to Cortana, it can do the following:

• Phone – make a call
• Messaging – send a text
• Calendar – add, edit or review
• Reminders – set place or time reminders
• Alarms – set an alarm
• Email – send an email
• Facts – people, places, things, fun
• Finance – currency conversions and stocks
• Math – calculations and conversions
• Dictionary – definitions and translations
• Weather – what it like out there
• News – news about your favourite topics

Microsoft also makes it clear to use Cortana, you agree to Terms & Privacy conditions, such as letting the voice assistant gain details about you and your location:

After using Cortana for a few search queries, I don’t know how much value it can offer against Google’s Assistant on a Google Home device or even Siri. It’s too much work to launch the app to use Cortana, while the app design is not exactly great with wasted space along the borders of the app, and its story suggestions with cards is limited and not as detailed as Google for iOS.

Nevertheless, if you’ve been waiting to use Cortana for iOS in Canada—click here to download it and give it a try.