Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft announced on Monday that the latest version of Phone Link for Windows 11 PCs can receive notifications, send texts, and answer calls from the user’s paired iPhone.
Most Americans use iPhones, and Apple’s integration on their products has helped their Mac business take market share away from Windows PCs in recent years. Apple accounted for about 10% of global PC shipments last year, with the rest mostly Windows machines. according to to IDC.
Microsoft’s move could remove barriers for computer buyers who would otherwise have chosen a Mac. Phone Link previously only worked with Android phones.
The Phone Link software doesn’t have as many features as Apple’s Messages for Mac. It works via Bluetooth, according to to The Vergeand requires the iPhone to have Microsoft’s “Link to Windows” app installed.
Windows PCs that support Phone Link receive notifications from the user’s iPhone and display the notification in Windows. It doesn’t support group messaging through iMessage, nor does it allow users to send photos or videos. Phone Link can only show the messages it sends or receives, so users who have sent some texts on their phone won’t see that part of their message history in the Windows app.
“Messaging features are limited by iOS,” the company said in Monday’s announcement. An Apple representative did not respond to a request for comment.
