Microsoft opens the doors of Outlook to accounts from external email applications. Gmail is already welcome; Yahoo, iCloud and IMAP will receive an invitation shortly.

To add external email accounts to Outlook, you must already have access to the updated Windows app that Microsoft is still rolling out. You can switch between the old and the new mail app via a switch in the upper right corner. The support of external mail services was a much-requested feature to which Microsoft is now responding, the company writes in a blog.

External mail programs are approved in phases. First up is the big competitor Gmail. You can add a new account via Add accountButton that appears below your folders in the layout. In addition to the mailbox, you can also use Google Calendar and Google Contacts in Outlook. In due course, Microsoft also plans to add Yahoo, iCloud and support for IMAP.

Many innovations are coming for Outlook

With the addition of Gmail, the construction work is far from over. Microsoft has many more innovations planned. For example, Outlook will soon be available offline.

The integrated calendar app is being completely revised. In addition to the link with Google Calendar, there will also be colors to distinguish appointments, the possibility to add the weather and the calendar also takes into account different time zones.

Other features in the pipeline are designed to help users get organized and add a personal touch to the mailbox. All this is yet to come:

• Automatic suggestions with Microsoft Notepad
• Add surveys to email (for work and school accounts only)
• Delay sending mails by 10 seconds
• Join a Teams conversation right from Outlook
• Pin important emails to the top of your inbox
• Track consignments
• Set reminders for unanswered emails
• Search more efficiently
• Support for ICS files

All of these features are being rolled out over time, so it’s hard to say when they’ll be available for your account.