Outlook Update for Android and iOS Adds Unified Address Book and More

Microsoft on Wednesday updated its Outlook email apps for the Android and iOS platforms with a list of new features like unified address book and search directory, apart from Calendar improvements and more.

The updated Microsoft Outlook apps for Android (version 1.1.5) and iOS (version 1.1.3) are available for download via their respective app stores.

First up is the new People section, which is now a complete address book. Microsoft has replaced the lightweight "top contacts" view with a unified view or user contacts from all email accounts.

With the update, users will now be able to view contact information, launch a new email, start a phone call or map its location just by selecting the contact. Additionally, Outlook now also provides quick-click shortcuts to easily find all the emails, meetings and files shared with the contact.

Outlook for Android can now pull contacts stored locally on the phone to create a unified address book for all contacts, even if they are not stored in user's email accounts.

Also, the People section now integrates the full organisational directory (also known as the Global Address List or GAL) for customers using commercial Office 365 or Exchange Server email. In addition to contacts, users will now be able to search for other items in their directory, including conference rooms, distribution lists and Groups.

"Just type in the name of the person you're looking for in the search bar and then select Search Directory. We've also integrated this same capability into the email compose experience so email within your organisation is easier than ever," notes Allen Filush, Product Manager, Outlook team.

Few other features added in the Outlook email apps for Android and iOS are the three-day Calendar view section in landscape mode (see below), support for zero-length meetings, a 'remove from calendar' action for cancelled meetings, and an improved calendar day picker when creating and editing meetings.

Microsoft has added search highlight for easy discovery in the Outlook for iOS app as of now, and the feature will be coming in an update to Outlook for Android soon.

Lastly, Microsoft has more user-focused as well as IT-focused updates in the pipeline. On top of the list, company is looking to provide mobile device management support, enabling the ability to read and reply to Information Rights Management (IRM) protected email and delivering OAuth support for Office 365 and Yahoo accounts.

The Redmond giant says that the company is also committed to deliver support for the new built-in MDM features for Office 365 and for Microsoft Intune later this quarter.