Microsoft to replace its many email variants with “ One Outlook ”

Microsoft is working on a single version of Outlook that will replace its current Windows 10 email and calendar apps, as well as its old Win 32 Outlook client with a single Outlook client for Windows and Mac. The new email / calendar client, named “Project Monarch,” according to Windows Central, is part of the company’s “One Outlook” plan and will be derived from the current Outlook web application.

It is currently possible to view the Microsoft “One Outlook” dashboard site by going to aka.ms/monarch. (See embedded screenshot, courtesy of @TeroAlhonen.)

“One Outlook (or ‘Monarch’) is the new version of Outlook designed for big screen experiences. This includes Windows Desktop (win32 and UWP; Intel and ARM), Outlook Web Access (OWA) and macOS Desktop,” according to a description on the One Outlook dashboard. (Thank you, @WinObs.)

During the days of Windows 8, Microsoft officials insisted that built-in mail and calendar apps, which are less functional than Outlook, were the future of mail at Microsoft. (At one point there were rumors that Microsoft was considering renaming the Mail and Calendar application set to “Outlook,” which would have compounded the confusing situation with many products all named “Outlook”.)

Since Microsoft moved away from Windows 8 and its original Universal Windows Platform (UWP) strategy, the company has started adding new features to Outlook for the web. To this day, however, it has continued to manage existing email and calendar apps for some reason, rather than building all of its Outlook-based email apps.

Microsoft currently has different versions of Outlook for Windows, Mac, Web, iOS, and Android devices (based on the Acompli technology it acquired), which its managers tend to call “Outlook”.

Windows Central reports that users may see a preview of the new “One Outlook” client by the end of 2021, but that it will not replace the messaging and calendar apps built into Windows 10 for some time in 2022. WC also says Microsoft’s intention to replace the old Win32 Outlook client “much further.”

I asked Microsoft to comment on the One Outlook / Monarch reports. No word yet. Update: A spokesperson said the company “has nothing to share”. (First “nothing to share” for the New Year. Now it really feels like we’re back to work!)