14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is becoming more and more committed to the Progressive Web App (PWA) push, and the company itself has started migrating some of its services to this new concept.
Outlook.com, for example, is now available as a PWA, essentially making it possible for users on a wider array of platforms to install the app and use it natively just like a dedicated client.
These platforms include not only Windows, but also macOS and even ChromeOS, as PWA support is available on all of them.
Installing Outlook.com is fairly easy, as it’s all powered by a browser that comes with support for this type of apps. Google Chrome, for example, notifies users when loading a website that offers a PWA, and installing them can be done with just a couple of clicks.
More Microsoft PWAs on the way
Outlook.com becoming a PWA could also be a sign that sooner or later, Microsoft will bring more such apps to users regardless of the platform they are committed to. This is most likely part of the company’s approach to expand beyond the world of Windows and invest in a portfolio of services that is available even on platforms owned by its rivals, as it’s the case of macOS.
Most likely, the web versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are next to receive PWAs, albeit this is just a guess for now and Microsoft is yet to release any announcements in this regard.
Outlook.com, however, has become more of a priority for Microsoft lately, and in addition to PWA support, the software giant is also working to add support for Google services. In other words, you’ll soon be able to connect your Gmail account to Outlook.com, meaning that you can check both inboxes without leaving Microsoft’s services. Google Drive support will also be added to be able to attach files to new emails.