Microsoft’s Outlook for iPhone boss is now in charge of Cortana
Microsoft’s Outlook for iOS and Android boss is now
transitioning to a new role inside the company, overseeing the Cortana
digital assistant. Javier Soltero first joined Microsoft back in
December 2014 when the software maker acquired the Acompli email app that soon became Outlook for iPhone and Android.
Axios reports
that Soltero has moved to overseeing Cortana around three weeks ago,
and will report to Harry Shum, Microsoft’s head of AI and research.
Microsoft’s Outlook mobile app has become a popular option for both iOS
and Android users, and the company has been continually updating it over
the past few years. Cortana has debuted on both iOS and Android, but it hasn’t had the same impact as Outlook.
Microsoft’s Cortana has now fallen far behind Alexa and Google Assistant, and that was particularly evident at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. With the exception of the Cortana-powered thermostat
(announced last year), no new Cortana devices were unveiled at CES this
year. Soltero’s move could be a boost to Microsoft’s Cortana efforts,
and it comes just as the company has partnered with Amazon to integrate Alexa and Cortana digital assistants.
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