Email as we know it is changing—and so is Microsoft’s strategy for its cornerstone product, Outlook. Last week, the company announced partnerships with third-party companies to integrate additional functionalities—including those from Uber, Yelp, Evernote, PayPal, and Boomerang—into Outlook email. These “add-ins” allow Outlook users to schedule an Uber ride prior to a meeting, for example, or send PayPal money through an email, or easily share information to and from Evernote. Most of the features will be incorporated into Outlook 2013 and Outlook Web for Office 365, with more partnerships likely to come. This announcement suggests a shift towards a platform strategy, whereby Microsoft acts as an intermediary connecting third parties with Outlook users.
Microsoft’s Bid to Make Outlook More than Email
The transition from product to platform.
August 18, 2015
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