Amazon & Microsoft reveal plans to allow cross-access for Alexa and Cortana
In an industry first, Amazon and Microsoft have announced that people will soon be able to access Alexa from Cortana, and vice versa, including through iOS.
Starting "later this year," people will be able to access Alexa via Cortana on Windows 10 PCs, Microsoft said on Wednesday. Cortana, meanwhile, will be accessible from Alexa devices like Amazon's Echo speakers. People will have to ask the primary assistant to "open" the other one.
Android and iOS support will follow sometime after the Windows 10 deployment. That will likely include the Cortana iOS app, but not the Alexa app, which is strictly a companion for other devices.
Neither voice assistant will be accessible outside apps on iOS, since Apple has so far restricted that functionality to Siri. It's also unlikely that Apple will enable support for other assistants through Siri, since that would break with the company's typical "walled garden" approach to its ecosystem.
Both Amazon and Microsoft have been eager to get their AI on third-party devices, presumably to draw people back into their own products and services. Indeed Google today announced that several third-party speakers will be getting Google Assistant, namely the Anker Zolo Mojo, Mobvoi TicHome Mini, and Panasonic GA10.
Apple will expand the number of Siri-compatible devices later this year with the HomePod, shipping in December for $349.
Starting "later this year," people will be able to access Alexa via Cortana on Windows 10 PCs, Microsoft said on Wednesday. Cortana, meanwhile, will be accessible from Alexa devices like Amazon's Echo speakers. People will have to ask the primary assistant to "open" the other one.
Android and iOS support will follow sometime after the Windows 10 deployment. That will likely include the Cortana iOS app, but not the Alexa app, which is strictly a companion for other devices.
Neither voice assistant will be accessible outside apps on iOS, since Apple has so far restricted that functionality to Siri. It's also unlikely that Apple will enable support for other assistants through Siri, since that would break with the company's typical "walled garden" approach to its ecosystem.
Both Amazon and Microsoft have been eager to get their AI on third-party devices, presumably to draw people back into their own products and services. Indeed Google today announced that several third-party speakers will be getting Google Assistant, namely the Anker Zolo Mojo, Mobvoi TicHome Mini, and Panasonic GA10.
Apple will expand the number of Siri-compatible devices later this year with the HomePod, shipping in December for $349.
Comments
Ironically I write this at the same time I am talking to Cortana and saying 'no' and 'no' and 'no' and 'no' during an installation of Windows 10 Creator lol.
Amazon has a huge advantage in having an always on device that can sell all its stuff. I'm rather waiting for when echo dots are offered for free, or some bundle. "Sign up for xxx amount of stuff, and get a free Dot." Or "Prime just went up to $125/yr, but renew for $99 when you buy a Dot." Get these things into consumers' hands, and they will buy buy buy.
A few weeks ago I was in Bed Bath & Beyond when I noticed a banner hanging from the ceiling near the cash registers for Amazon Echo. Apparently you can buy an Echo at BB&B. How does this make any sense for BB&B? Isn't Echo's primary purpose for people to purchase items from Amazon, a competitor to BB&B?
- Extracting as much data from us as possible?
- Extracting as much money from us as possible?
Hey, what's not to like eh?
Answer: Everything.
Neither of these will get into my home. The same goes for Homepod btw.
It benefits Amazon just like it does with all their stuff being sold at Best Buy also. How does it help Amazon. Well it gets more exposure to all their Echo Products. People can actually see them in person. Maybe don't know about them. They now need to setup a Amazon account, maybe even get Prime, and onto buying directly from Amazon .
How does it help best Buy or BB&B? Not sure. Ok, they sell the devices and make a small profit and then those people are buying their products from Amazon now instead of BB&B or Best Buy! So it works out great for Amazon. They win wither you buy a Echo directly or from a brick and mortar store. The stores are the ones on the short end. Seems short sited to me. Helping to kill your own existence.