Microsoft Transforms Outlook into Progressive Web App (PWA)
Microsoft is making a significant move towards Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) by planning to transform Outlook.com and Outlook for webmail services into these modern applications. This decision is a part of the company's ongoing focus on PWA momentum.
While a specific timeline for this transition has not been publicly announced, Microsoft is already experimenting with the integration of Google Drive, Gmail, and Calendar support into Outlook.com. A small set of users are currently testing this feature.
Once the Outlook web app is installed, it behaves like a native app in Windows or macOS. Users can 'install' Outlook.com from the address bar, treating it as a native app on their devices. The Outlook web app can also be installed on various platforms supporting PWAs natively, including Chrome OS.
Outlook.com, operating as a part of Windows 10, serves as an effective substitute or alternative to the messy Outlook Windows desktop app version or the Windows Mail client. The support for PWAs is now live and can be accessed with the Canary version of the Chromium-based Edge browser or Brave browser.
The aim of turning Outlook.com and Outlook into PWAs is to provide users with a more seamless and app-like experience across various devices. This move is encouraging some app development companies to invest in PWA development.
PWAs are a combination of traditional browser and mobile app experience, designed to work on various devices like laptops, smartphones, phablets, tablets, and more. Essentially still websites, PWAs include features that make them appear as traditional apps. They offer improved notification features, caching, and background functionality, which is why many companies are migrating their websites to PWAs.
Microsoft also plans to transform other products, including Word and Excel, into PWAs. This development marks a revival of Microsoft's plans for turning its services and products into PWAs, which had seemed to stall for a while.
By embracing PWAs, Microsoft is joining other tech giants who have already adopted this technology, such as Twitter and Facebook. As PWAs become more prevalent, users can expect a smoother, more consistent experience across various devices and platforms.
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