Microsoft executive says Cortana will be available in the UK and China within ‘weeks’

Cortana, the personal assistant for Windows Phone that Microsoft developed to rival Siri and Google Now, is weeks away from being available to users in the UK and China, according to a Microsoft staffer responsible for managing it.

Cortana is only available to US-based Windows Phone users right now, but WinBeta spotted a tweet from Marcus Ash, group program manager for Cortana on Windows Phone, which explains that at least two launches are imminent.

That comment followed a series of tweets from Ash which explained that Microsoft is fully focused on developing the service for Windows Phone devices before it considers creating versions for iOS and Android.

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“We are in Beta and we are in the US and we know before we do anything else we need to scale and get Cortana out to more customers,” Ash said separately in a comment on Microsoft-focused blog WPCentral, pointing out that overseas launches are the top priority for Cortana.

➤ Confirmed: Microsoft will launch Cortana in the UK and China in the coming weeks [WinBeta]

Previously: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana, Action Center, customizable lockscreens