Cortana goes quiet on the Fourth of July

Windows Phone 8.1 users in the U.S., had to go without personal assistant Cortana for a few hours on Friday. During this time period, inquiries to Cortana were met with a response indicating that there was a problem with the application. For example, some U.S. Windows Phone 8.1 users who were using Cortana to look up information, received a message that read, "My suggestion well is dry. Try back later or add some more interests." Some who asked the personal assistant a question were told that, "I'm sorry, the internet and I aren't talking right now."

The outage apparently affected only a small number of Windows Phone 8.1 users. Unfortunately, the same connection to Microsoft's servers that allows Cortana to be updated twice a month, is also the personal assistant's downfall. If something happens to Microsoft's servers, down she goes.

Right now, Cortana is available only in the U.S., on Windows Phone 8.1. The only way to get the new build of Windows Phone in the U.S. is to sign up as a Windows Phone developer with Microsoft, or by purchasing the Nokia Lumia 635. The latter comes with the new build out of the box. The Lumia 635 can be pre-ordered now from HSN, bundled with a pair of chargers for $119.95. The device will ship on July 21st.


source: WPCentral