E-MAIL - E-MAIL SOFTWARE - 16.03.2018

Outlook on your smartphone or tablet

Outlook for mobiles

The mobile version of Outlook is a relative newcomer. However, it has quickly become popular thanks to its user friendly interface, logical organisation, the integration of calendars and an address book and handy links to cloud storage services. The app can be downloaded free of charge from the app store on your mobile device.

Better navigation

It used to be quite difficult to switch between different accounts or folders in the Outlook app. Everything has now been streamlined through a new design for the sidebar. Since each account is given a separate button, you can now easily move from one account to another. The sidebar takes you directly to the app’s Settings and Help pages.

Conversations

Outlook can group related messages into conversations. You’re shown more messages simultaneously and the e-mails are easy to distinguish. By tapping on a conversation you can jump immediately to the first unread message. Plus you can type a short reply to all the participants.

Searching

Microsoft has given the search function a serious boost. This function is now directly accessible via the tab bar and it not only looks for messages but also for contacts and files. In addition, the search engine has become a lot faster and more intelligent. While you’re typing, it will automatically start making suggestions.

Calendars, contacts, groups

Calendars. Originally, the calendar functions in the mobile Outlook app were rather limited compared with those of the desktop application. This shortcoming has been largely resolved. In the app you can now schedule recurrent appointments, check the availability of colleagues or add a note when replying to an invitation, e.g. explaining why you can’t accept the invitation. You’re given access to shared calendars and you can share your own calendar with others. The delegation of calendars - in which you allow your assistant or another collaborator to manage your calendar - has become operational in the mobile app.

Contacts. It used to be a serious drawback that you couldn’t add or edit contacts in the mobile Outlook. This has been set right. Use the + button in the People tab, or simply tap the name of a person in an e-mail, and choose Add Contact . All changes are synchronised to other Outlook apps.

Groups. Office365 users are familiar with Groups, a practical concept to communicate within a work group or a team. The mobile Outlook app gives access to Groups functions, e.g. reading and answering group conversations, or scheduling group appointments in your calendar.

Add-ins

The mobile Outlook app can now be extended by means of a (limited) number of add-ins, mainly for integrating external services such as Evernote and Trello into Outlook. You can activate add-ins via the Settings ; Add-ins menu. Note. Add-ins are available only to Outlook.com users and Office365 subscribers.