With the launch of Cortana on Windows 10 Mobile, Microsoft introduced a new option which let the Digital Assistant read out messages aloud in hands free mode. Now since the Redmond Giant has stopped development of its windows mobile platform, the company is testing the same feature for its Digital Assistant Cortana on Android platform.
The ability to read text messages aloud in hands free mode was the most preferred Windows feature and now the company plans to introduce the same feature to the Android users who have installed the company’s Digital Assistant.
Microsoft is currently internally testing this feature by adding some new capabilities for Cortana on Android. The feature is currently enabled for Cortana beta testers by default. Users would need to however connect their device to a Bluetooth, any third party accessory or car to take advantage of the feature.
This feature is specially helpful for users when driving and can read the text messages aloud via their Bluetooth or car speakers without having to touch the phones. Microsoft is expected to enable the text feature by default for Android users but is planning to provide options to disable the feature for privacy driven users.
The company has already pushed out the feature to Android beta testers but also warns users to not install the latest update if they have privacy concerns regards to incoming SMS’s.
Microsoft explains: “This beta feature currently will automatically read all incoming SMS aloud. DO NOT install this update if you have privacy concerns. All your SMS’s will be read aloud without asking for confirmation to read them,”.
We are currently not sure as to when the company plans to push this feature to all Android users but it should not take too long for Microsoft since it is already testing the feature with Beta Android users.
We will be keeping you posted as soon as the Redmond Giant plans to release the feature to all Cortana users on Android.
