Washington: Microsoft is set to include Cortana digital assistant in the next major version of Windows, which is expected to be named Windows 9.
Sources revealed Cortana is a major area of investment for the release of the version, which is currently codenamed Threshold, and is expected to be in the market in spring 2015, The Vergereported.
Currently, Cortana exists as a separate app in Threshold , but Microsoft has been gradually improving it every two weeks by adding additional data points and features, and as the service is HTML driven, these improvements will make their way over to the Windows 9 version.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is likely to unveil new Lumia phones, which may include the much speculated ‘selfie phone’ expected to be labeled as Lumia 730 on September 4.
The company has started sending invites to members of the press to tease a ‘ready for more’ announcement. The invite comes just two weeks after Microsoft devices chief Stephen Elop showed off two new Lumia Windows Phones, and described one particular device as a ‘selfie phone’ during a private internal company meeting, The Verge reported.
However, Microsoft is also planning to launch its Lumia 830, codenamed Tesla, with a PureView camera, and the company may well unveil both handsets during its event at the IFA consumer electronics show in Germany on September 4