14 DAY TRIAL // We have already learned that Cortana will not be available in the UK this month, but at least we now know how it will be made available to Windows Phone fans.
It’s no surprise here, but Microsoft’s Marcus Ash confirmed that Cortana would be launched in the UK through Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview. There’s no ETA for the release yet, but Marcus says Microsoft will follow the same model as the US with a Developer Preview launch.
The same pattern will be applied to the launch of the intelligent digital assistant in China, so those expecting Cortana to arrive in the Mainland should know it will be made available through a Developer Preview as well.
In the meantime, Microsoft continues to roll out its Windows Phone 8.1 handsets in various parts of the world. The Redmond-based company is also preparing for the deployment of the highly anticipated Windows Phone 8.1 update.
Microsoft has confirmed fans will be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8.1 operating system this summer, but did not provide an actual release date.
However, it did say that device updates depend on handset manufacturers and carriers, but in this case it mostly depends on Microsoft as the company already owns Nokia’s mobile division.
@rquickenden Thanks Rob. We are working on getting the UK and China versions out through the developer preview.
— Marcus Ash (@marcusash) July 7, 2014