“Mentions” are something you’ll be familiar with if you use interaction tools like Slack or Confluence, or social networks apps like Twitter or Instagram. You type the “@” symbol and after that somebody’s name, and they get a message stating you’ve discussed them in a message/post/article. Mentions have likewise turned up in the latest variations of Outlook, so let’s take a look at what they do.
Microsoft’s latest variations of Outlook are Outlook 2016, Outlook 365, and Outlook.com. If you’re not using one of these versions, you won’t have discusses up until you update.
Mentions operate in Outlook in similar way as they do all over else you’ve used them. Type an “@” sign in the body of an email or event and after that start typing a name and any matching contacts will stand for you to choose.
Keep typing until the best name is shown, or utilize the Up and Down arrows on your keyboard to pick the right name from the list, and struck Return/Enter on your keyboard. The reference will be shown, and the discussed individual will automatically be contributed to the “To” field.
And that’s it, at least from the sender’s point of view. You can point out as lots of people you want, and after that send the email when you’re prepared.
As the receiver of the mail, a number of things are different when you receive a mail in which somebody has actually mentioned you. The default folder view in Outlook (in the versions we mentioned at the top of this post) now consists of a “Mention” column.
When you get a mail in which you’ve been pointed out, an “@” symbol will show up in the Mention column.
You’ve also got an extra “Mentioned Mail” filter you can choose if you wish to see simply the messages where somebody has actually discussed you.
what’s the point?
Well, in all honesty, not much, as far as we can see. The entire point of utilizing a mention in Twitter or Slack is to bring somebody into the conversation or alert them, but you’re already doing that in Outlook by just sending them the message.
If we had to guess, we ‘d say Microsoft is simply laying some foundation for the future– most likely for some type of integration with Microsoft Teams. There are plenty of individuals who utilize Microsoft items at work, but not Slack, Twitter, or other social media. Microsoft is greatly pushing Teams for its business customers, and– not a surprise here– mentions function greatly in Teams the same method they do in Slack.
It may be that Microsoft is simply getting people utilized to the concept of discusses, however it’s more likely that they’re intending on some integration in between Outlook and Teams (and probably server items like Exchange and SharePoint) that we’re just not seeing yet. Time will tell.
You type the “@” sign and then someone’s name, and they get a message stating you’ve discussed them in a message/post/article. Mentions work in Outlook in much the exact same method as they do everywhere else you’ve used them. As the receiver of the mail, a couple of things are various when you get a mail in which somebody has discussed you. It might be that Microsoft is simply getting people utilized to the concept of points out, however it’s more most likely that they’re planning on some combination between Outlook and Teams (and most likely server products like Exchange and SharePoint) that we’re simply not seeing.
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