Microsoft is unveiling a few new features for its Outlook desktop app, Outlook for iOS/Android mobile apps, and the company’s Outlook.com webmail service this week. The new Outlook features that are now available and being detailed by Microsoft less than a week after Google started releasing a new Gmail redesign. Google’s new Gmail features are mostly aimed at business customers in a way to get more businesses to use the G Suite. Microsoft’s new Outlook features are also aimed primarily at business customers which is an area that Microsoft’s traditional Outlook desktop apps for Windows and macOS specialize in.
Microsoft is adding bill pay reminders to Outlook.com, and it will appear as calendar items if Outlook.com identifies a bill received in an email. The reminders are alike with how travel reservations or package delivery tracking works in Outlook.com, and the date due for the bill will be automatically added to the calendar event. Outlook.com will also send an email two days before the bill is due.
Outlook for Windows is also getting new calendar features that are more targeted towards businesses. Outlook now offers proposals for meeting locations in calendar entries and automatically flood them with information from Bing. Outlook for iOS is also getting a location support that is alike, besides the option to book meeting rooms from your mobile device.
Microsoft is also improving RSVP and tracking meeting attendees in Outlook’s calendar. You’ll be able to see the tracked responses to meetings even if you didn’t organize them. Also Outlook’s calendar on Windows and Mac is also getting better time zone support.
Microsoft is adding in better support for the emails you’re blind copied in on. Outlook for iOS will soon support syncing draft emails, creating an easy way to compose an email on your phone and finish it on your PC. Draft syncing is available on Outlook for Android, Mac, and Windows, and it’s coming to Outlook for iOS this month.
Microsoft is also integrating its Office Lens tech into Outlook for Android.
Outlook for both iOS and Android are getting support for favorite contacts in June. Outlook for Android is also getting support to block external content in emails, and the iOS version will include Office 365 Groups support in June.
