View all newsletters
Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you
  1. What Is
March 24, 2017

What is Cortana?

Microsoft's answer to Apple's Siri and Google's Google Now.

By Ellie Burns

Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s Siri – an intelligent personal assistant for Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone, Microsoft Band, Xbox One, iOS and Android.

Making its debut at the 2014 Microsoft BUILD Developer Conference, it was billed as a stand out feature of the revamped operating systems for Windows Phone and Windows.

Named after a character from the video game Halo, Cortana can be spoken to without the need to manually input data from a keyboard.

 

Who voices Cortana in the UK?

Cortana can set reminders, answer questions using the Bing search engine, and recognise natural voice.

An attempt has been made to tailor Cortana based on the region where it is being used. In the UK, for example, the assistant has a  British accent and uses British idioms, while the Chinese version, known as Xiao Na, speaks Mandarin.

Ginnie Watson, an actress and voice-over artist, is the Cortana voice for the UK localised version of the assistant.

Content from our partners
How businesses can safeguard themselves on the cyber frontline
How hackers’ tactics are evolving in an increasingly complex landscape
Green for go: Transforming trade in the UK

Topics in this article : ,
Websites in our network
Select and enter your corporate email address Tech Monitor's research, insight and analysis examines the frontiers of digital transformation to help tech leaders navigate the future. Our Changelog newsletter delivers our best work to your inbox every week.
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • CISO
  • CSO
  • CFO
  • CDO
  • CEO
  • Architect Founder
  • MD
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
THANK YOU