Why it matters: Microsoft is looking to simplify its Outlook apps by using a single customer powered past the web. This would allow Microsoft to have a shared experience beyond platforms without having to deal with differing code bases. This also seems to be office of a larger initiative to revitalize the Microsoft brand to be amicable to all platforms.

Microsoft will eschew dedicated desktop apps for Outlook in lieu of a single customer powered by the spider web, according to Windows Central. This is function of Microsoft'south "One Outlook" initiative that seeks to unify Outlook regardless of platform. The effort is called Projection Monarch and will await to supersede all Microsoft email clients, including the default Windows Mail app.

Project Monarch will exist built on a single codebase in order to simplify deployment across platforms. Windows Central says that Microsoft looks to have a single user feel and volition be attainable to all customers, business and consumers.

While yous tin can technically install Outlook as a Progressive Spider web App (PWA) now, it doesn't have all of the integrations that Monarch will have. For example, Monarch will include back up for offline storage, notifications, and share targets. Microsoft wants to ensure that it feels "native" to each platform while nevertheless adhering to the aforementioned look and feel equally the Outlook website.

Microsoft volition start previewing Monarch towards the end of the year. The default Mail and Calendar apps are scheduled to be sunset adjacent twelvemonth with Monarch combining both functions into the i awarding. The company also has plans to dusk the Win32 Outlook application, only that volition likely happen farther out in the future due to the complexity of the app.

In the meantime, Windows Central states that the electric current Mail and Calendar apps are in "maintenance mode" and will become a slight UI alter in line with Microsoft'due south planned "Sun Valley" design refresh for Windows ten later this yr.