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VOLUME 34-08 November 2017 LCACE.ORG

Cortana, Open Alexa, Amazon Says

And Microsoft Agrees

In an unusual partnership, Amazon and Microsoft are working together to extend the ability of
their overcontrolled digital assistants.

From Twin City Nibbler
By Jeannine Sloan

I talk to Cortana every day — at home, work and Echo Dot and Echo Show.
on-the-go — to get information about my day, to Amazon press release, the collaboration between
set reminders so I don’t forget things, and to an- Microsoft and Amazon reflects our belief that when
people and technology work together, everybody
swer my questions. But I don’t just use one digital wins:
assistant. I also frequently talk to Alexa to listen to
audio books or to add things to my shopping list. “Ensuring Cortana is available for our customers
Because people use and interact with all kinds of everywhere and across any device is a key priority
products, we’re very excited to announce a first-of- for us. Bringing Cortana’s knowledge, Office 365
its-kind collaboration with Amazon between Corta- integration, commitments and reminders to Alexa is
na and Alexa that will offer more choice, value and a great step toward that goal.”
access to both intelligent personal assistants. By bringing Cortana to Alexa and Alexa to Cortana,
Available later this year, this collaboration will allow I’m excited that we’re adding more value and
you to access Alexa via Cortana on Windows 10 choice for consumers and developers alike. Corta-
PCs, followed by Android and iOS in the future. na users will be able to have Alexa shop on Ama-
Conversely, you’ll be able to access Cortana on zon.com and manage their Amazon orders and ac-
Alexa-enabled devices like the Amazon Echo, cess many of Alexa’s third-party skills by asking
Cortana to open Alexa, just as Alexa users will
have access to Cortana’s world knowledge and
helpful productivity features such as calendar man-
agement, day at a glance and location-based re-
minders simply by asking Alexa to open Cortana.

Alexa as a guest on Cortana
With Alexa as a guest on Cortana, Cortana users

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