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