Tech giant, Microsoft has introduced a desktop application for iPhone users to send and receive messages, calls, and notifications directly from their PCs.
The developed application is pre-installed on Windows PCs and was previously only available for Android users to synchronise their phones to their laptops.
However, the app only supports basic messaging and calling and does not allow group messaging or sending media. Despite being unable to share photos on the Phone Link, iCloud Photos is already integrated into the Windows 11 photos app.
The latest Windows 11 update enables iPhone users to establish seamless connectivity between their smartphone and laptop.
According to Microsoft, the Windows system exchanges messages via Bluetooth, and Apple transforms them into iMessage if the recipient uses an iPhone. The enhanced Phone Link application will not provide a complete conversation history nor indicate blue or green bubbles. It also will not exhibit photos saved on iPhones, unlike Android phones linked to the PC.
The updated application provides basic support for iOS, including calls, messages, and contacts. It enables users to receive notifications directly via Windows notifications, but the experience may not be seamless. Microsoft has stated that Phone Link for iOS does not offer features like sending media messages or replying to group messages.
Microsoft said it was launching the preview first to a limited percentage of “insiders”, implying that not all “insiders” will have access to the preview immediately. But it noted that based on feedback, it would gradually expand the availability of the preview to more “insiders.”
Android users have had access to Phone Link for some time, and Microsoft announced an “even richer experience” for those users, including the option to “easily transfer” browser sessions from their Samsung phone to their Windows device.