Microsoft has been testing deeper integrations of Gmail and Google Calendar in Outlook on the web for months, and part of that is coming today for commercial Outlook users. Outlook users on the web will be able to add their personal Outlook.com or Google Calendar accounts to an Outlook work account so you can better see their availability when scheduling work appointments.
This new feature is now being implemented for all Microsoft 365 users with a work account, but there is no news on when Outlook.com users will be able to add Gmail and Google Calendar accounts. Microsoft has been testing this functionality for months, appearing briefly in some Outlook.com accounts.
Along with the integration of Google Calendar, Outlook on the web is also receiving some useful updates. Now you can schedule when emails are sent and get suggested responses to emails in Outlook on the web and Outlook Mobile. Microsoft also plans to add suggestions to Outlook Mobile for meeting availability and scheduling so people know when you’re free.
Microsoft is also improving calendar management in Outlook on the web so that you can directly classify your calendar in your inbox instead of having to switch between your Outlook inbox and calendar sections. While Teams is directly integrated with Outlook, Microsoft is also adding a one-touch button for Zoom and Webex meetings in Outlook mobile. The Cortana “Play my emails” feature is finally coming to Android, too, after it launched on iOS last year.
All of the enhancements are designed to help make Outlook a little easier to use now that many people work remotely and schedule even more meetings on a daily basis.
