Also at the conference, Microsoft introduced Windows Phone 8.1, the latest version of the mobile OS. It features the digital assistant Cortana, based on a character from the game Halo and powered by the Bing search engine. Cortana gets to know the user over time from his or her's phone behaviour in order to serve up relevant content and features. Microsoft also added the Action Center, to manage new activities and notifications in one place, and Senses, a panel to monitor data use, storage space and battery life.
Businesses also get new control features such as simplified device enrollment, a built-in mobile device management client, S/MIME for encrypted mail and VPN support. In addition, Windows Phone 8.1 comes with closer Skype integration, allowing users to 'upgrade' audio calls easily to the VoIP service. Skype will also come pre-installed on selected carriers with the OS update.
Nokia was the first to announce new phones running Windows Phone 8.1, and the upgrade will roll out to all current Windows Phone 8 users over the coming months. Cortana will launch shortly in the US as a beta, in the UK and China in the second half of 2014, and in other countries in 2015.
Microsoft also announced an update to its PC operating system, Windows 8.1 Update, which rolls out in the coming week to existing customers. In addition it updated its Visual Studio developer tools to make it easier to design apps that work on both Windows phones and PCs. The Windows Store will also get a face-lift in order to help users find apps more easily and developers monetise apps better.
