Windows 10 Experience Comes to iPhone, Android Devices

How to get Windows 10 on any smartphone.

ByABC News
July 29, 2015, 3:08 PM

— -- Microsoft really wants to make Windows 10 omnipresent in the lives of its users.

With the release of Windows 10 today, Microsoft is emphasizing a computing experience that can move seamlessly between the PC and almost any smartphone, including iPhone and Android devices.

While Windows 10 stands out for a variety of functionality upgrades and a sharp new browser, the software upgrade released today also includes a phone companion app, allowing users to connect whatever smartphone they own to their Windows 10 PC.

Windows phones don't require anything extra, however Android and iPhone users will be guided through a few additional steps to get their smartphones integrated.

The result: All of the files from a Windows 10 PC will also be accessible via smartphone and anything taken on the smartphone can also be located from a Windows 10 equipped computer.

That means any notes taken and edited can be synced across the devices and every photo taken on a smartphone can also be accessed on its partner PC -- no extra downloading necessary.

Perhaps the juiciest development of all: Cortana will soon be able to hone in on Siri's turf. Microsoft's digital personal assistant will be available through the Windows 10 phone companion app in the coming months, however she won't be able to be called hands-free.

Cortana will instead live in an app form on Android and iPhone devices that have opted to download the service. She will be able to remind you of certain tasks and answer questions, however there will be some limitations.

"Some features require access to the system that aren't currently possible with iOS or Android, so things like toggling settings or opening apps won't initially be available in the Cortana companions for those platforms," a Microsoft blog post said. "Similarly, the ability to invoke Cortana hands-free by saying 'Hey Cortana' requires special integration with the device’s microphone, so that feature will be limited to Windows Phones and PCs."

Released today, Windows 10 is available in 190 countries as a free upgrade for most consumers. Microsoft hopes to upgrade a total of one billion people in the coming years.