Microsoft One Outlook refers to an updated and visually reimagined email client that will consolidate the company’s multiple applications for email, contact, and calendar management across platforms.
While there were rumors about a new email offering across 2020, the first concrete news came in January 2021. A few leaked renders on Twitter suggested that Microsoft was working on a project codenamed Monarch, building on the existing Outlook experience available with the web app. Several industry commentators expected a launch towards the end of 2021 and a gradual phase-out of existing Outlook experiences (fragmented across the web, desktop, and mobile) throughout 2022.
Microsoft One Outlook https://t.co/71q3iJ5H5P
— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) January 6, 2021
While there were no details around One Outlook’s features or new capabilities, Microsoft’s official instructions for installing the application did emerge. In 2021, the company warned that it was meant only for “brave dog fooders” – i.e., those building products for their own consumption and those who could safely undertake the risk of trying out an Outlook prototype in a non-commercial environment. At that time, Outlook Desktop and the web app remained the staple for functional purposes.
Microsoft also mentioned that the setup program was unsigned and that One Outlook would self-update in the background without necessarily informing the user. It also required an active internet connection at all times. Microsoft MVP, Richard Hay, revealed official instructions on Twitter.
More… pic.twitter.com/rfpOl9YhwT
— Richard Hay (@WinObs) January 4, 2021
Fast forward by a full twelve months, and once again, there are rumors that Microsoft One Outlook is almost ready for an official preview. A report from ZDNet cited sources who mentioned that Microsoft could be looking at a spring release date for One Outlook. It seems to have been in development throughout the last few quarters and is finally almost ready for testing as part of the Insider’s preview program. Given the delayed launch, it is not likely that the company will phase out its existing email offerings, which may be slightly bloated, but remains central to user workflows around the world.
What Are the One Outlook Features to Expect?
Microsoft is yet to reveal the features of the new, web-centric email platform. The original online prototype that was previously hosted on monarch.azurewebsites.net is no longer available, but there are a few foundational capabilities we expect:
- A unified user experience (UX) – The most significant change that will impact users is a completely refreshed UX, taking off from the Outlook web client. Windows 11 introduces a very different visual aesthetic from the last few operating system versions. The same Fluent design and soft edges will continue to appear in One Outlook. Also, users will receive the same UX no matter which device or platform they use.
- Web centricity – While offline support was missing from the 2021 “brave dogfooders” prototype, we expect that users will be able to access One Outlook offline once Microsoft has launched it. However, the application could be more web-centric than before, similar to other popular web-based email solutions like Gmail by Google. Importantly, this is more of a strategic reimagining than a feature change.
- Native OS integration – One Outlook could come pre-integrated with the rest of the Windows 11 ecosystem to provide a seamless and cohesive experience. It would also involve a much more truncated installation footprint, requiring limited resources from the local device. Thanks to the integration, users can receive system notifications and share their local device storage with Outlook.
- Applications in Outlook – In a separate development roadmap, Microsoft is bringing Teams-like apps to the email experience. Applications designed for the chat and collaboration platform will now be available in Outlook, and this could be incorporated into One Outlook as well. Remember that this is conjecture but could prove transformative to how we use Microsoft for email.
When Can You Use Microsoft One Outlook?
After several months, no new information surfaced about Monarch. However, if recent rumors are anything to go by, we could be looking at an official announcement very soon. ZDNet’s sources mention a spring announcement, followed by a test version sometime in March-April of 2022. Even then, it will be available only to Windows Insider members in the Dev and Beta channels, indicating early stages of development.
By July or August, One Outlook could reach the Slow Channel of the Insiders program, which is meant for testers who prefer to wait for a more polished version for Microsoft apps. Notably, the company announced these different channels or preview tracks in 2020 to streamline the release process further. This July-August timeline could extend to fall 2022.
2022 is an important year for Microsoft’s aging email solution. It has several new features for release, from customer calendar colors to emoji reactions to email on the web and the much-awaited Teams app synchronization. After nearly two years, the One outlook app could finally debut, offering users a streamlined experience that will hopefully convert those currently on competing solutions. However, to begin with, One Outlook is expected to co-exist with the mail and calendar apps.
