Microsoft’s email client Outlook is now available for free on MacOS
devices in the App Store. This means that users would no longer require the 365
subscription or Office license to access the platform.
In 2020, Microsoft had updated Outlook for Mac with a new
design to align the app with the latest design changes in macOS, including the M1
and M2 chip integration. It also provides a macOS widget for calendar entries
and a notification center support. Using the handoff with iOS functionality, MacOS
users can resume their device activities from where they left them, between iOS
and Mac devices.
In addition to Outlook accounts, Outlook for Mac offers
integration of Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, and any email provider with an IMAP
support.
Microsoft plans to add a menu bar peek tool to Outlook for Mac, which would enable users to take a quick look at their calendar entries directly from the main Outlook for Mac app. Additionally, support for Apple’s Focus experience with new Outlook Profiles is also expected to make its way to the app.
While Microsoft shares the news for free access to Outlook
for MacOS users, the company is also making changes to Outlook for Windows. In the
near future, Windows users could likely see the Windows Mail app and Outlook
for Windows merged into a single email app called ‘One Outlook.’ The app will
too be free of cost for Windows users and will offer support for several
different email providers.
Unlike Outlook for Windows, Microsoft does not plan to turn
the MacOS Outlook app into a Progressive Web App, although it promises to keep
updating the app with more features.
