In an effort to level the playing field with Apple, Microsoft announced that it will introduce new interoperability features that will allow its Windows 11 software for PCs to communicate with iPhones, enabling users to display notifications, send messages, and make and receive calls. The new feature, called Phone Link for iOS, will establish a Bluetooth connection between an iPhone and a Windows 11 computer, providing basic support for calls, messages, and app notifications. However, the software will not initially allow users to participate in group message chats or send multimedia messages with photos or videos. Microsoft’s chief product officer, Panos Panay, stated that the Phone Link feature is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to bring users closer to what is most important to them. This feature is just one of several updates to Microsoft’s Windows 11 software, which was released about a year and a half ago.

Microsoft’s Phone Link software is part of a larger initiative to more closely connect Windows computers with Apple’s popular devices and services. Apple has been a pioneer in sync and messaging technologies for smartphones, particularly through its iMessage service and iCloud service. These technologies have helped to closely connect Apple’s iPhones, iPad tablets, and Mac computers, and have given Apple products a competitive edge. However, Microsoft has been introducing features over the past few years to make Windows PCs more Apple-like, such as a revamped Apple-friendly photos app and more iCloud syncing. Microsoft also released a version of phone link software for devices powered by Google’s Android software.

As part of its Windows 11 update on Tuesday, Microsoft announced that it will introduce new features for Android users as well, including the ability to activate a Samsung phone’s personal hotspot from the computer and view websites recently visited on a Samsung phone from a computer. Both of these features have been available on Apple products for years.