For quite some time, Android users have been able to enjoy the Microsoft Mobile Link (Phone Link) application for Windows systems with which to carry out daily tasks on their mobiles, such as answering phone calls and messages, accessing photos mobile phones, and more, right from their own computers.
Now Microsoft wants to offer a similar experience, as far as possible, to mobile users with iOS as the operating system by launching the Link Mobile update, which now has support for mobile phones with iOS, with a view to this deployment that Now it starts with 85 markets in 39 different languages, it can be available to all users by the middle of next May.
Eliminating barriers between the phone and the computer
This launch, after months of testing in the hands of the users of the Windows Insiders program, meets the objective set by the company consisting of eliminating the barriers between the telephone and the computer “and facilitating the connection with the people who matter most to you.” ».
In practice, this will mean that users will now be able to take calls that occur on their iPhone directly from their computer, although this also allows them to keep in touch with family and friends through the iMessage service, and little else for now.
initial possibilities
What Mobile Link will offer for iOS users on Windows 11 initially is the following:
Once enabled by the Windows 11 client, Mobile Link for iOS will offer basic iOS support for calling, messaging, and contact access.
It is likely that new functions will be added over time, similar to what has been happening with Android mobile users, also considering the possible technical difficulties they may encounter, given Apple’s closed approach to its operating systems.
Clearly, Microsoft says that with iMessage, it will only be possible to carry out individual conversations, although not the sharing of images or videos, or group messaging due to limitations of the service itself.
Now, although it is not yet possible to access mobile photos, until this functionality can be a reality, Microsoft offers the use of iCloud supported in the Windows 11 Photos application as an alternative.
Requirements to take into account
To use Mobile Link, Microsoft places its search in the search box on the Windows 11 taskbar to be able to use it or verify that your device is already enabled.
Once possible, users will go through a step-by-step installation guide to get set up, as long as they have an iPhone running iOS 14 or higher, a computer running Windows 11, a Bluetooth connection, and the latest version of the app. mobile link.
At the moment it is only possible to establish links with mobiles with iOS, not with iPad tablets.
More information: Microsoft
