Cortana started life as a character in the Halo games but was repurposed as Microsoft's virtual assistant on Windows Phones (as pictured) and more recently Windows 10. And if you have an Android phone, you don't have to miss out on her soothing voice any longer.

Yesterday, Microsoft released Cortana for Android in a public beta version on the Play Store. It's been in closed beta for a few weeks after accidentally leaking early, and you can even have Android point directly towards Cortana when you hold down your home button.

Cortana is also slated to hit iOS this year as Microsoft continues its recent multiplatform push, but today's the day to give the Android version a shot - assuming you're in the United States, that is. Sorry, the beta version is only available there as of this writing.

[Source: Blogging Windows]