Cortana is coming. Photo: Microsoft

Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant originally built for Windows Phone, will arrive on Android to take on Google Now next month. The app will initially be available in beta as a companion to Cortana on Windows 10 PCs.

Cortana in action on Android. Screenshot: Cult of Android

The battle between virtual assistants is about to hot up again as Microsoft Cortana prepares to go cross-platform to take on Siri and Google Now. The intelligent virtual assistant will be arriving on Android and iOS later this year, but you can get a sneak peek in the video below.

Android and iOS apps on Windows phones? Yup. Photo: Microsoft

More than four years after its debut, Windows Phone still has a native app problem. Microsoft has now accepted that’s not going to change anytime soon, so in an effort to attract new users to its platform, it’s going to allow them to run Android and iOS apps… sort of.

Nokia is to return to the smartphone business. Photo: Nokia

Almost a year since it sold its smartphone business to Microsoft, Nokia is preparing to launch new phones for 2017, according to sources familiar with the Finnish firm’s plans. Details are scarce for now, but it’s likely the devices will be powered by Android.

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