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If you are considering Office 365, now called Microsoft 365, you'll want to know what's included. A common question is, "Does it come with Outlook for email?"
In this blog post, we'll answer that question and take you through core functionality and the difference between Outlook online vs. Outlook for desktop. Our aim is simple: to help you decide which licence to get for your business.
What do you get in Office 365, and does it include Outlook for email?
Office 365 is a cloud-based service paid for by monthly or annual subscription. It offers various productivity tools for businesses and individuals. It allows you to access applications and services across devices from any location, as long as you have an internet connection.
When you subscribe to Office 365, you can access a suite of popular Microsoft applications, including
Microsoft regularly updates these applications with new features and functionality, ensuring you always have the latest tools to help you work efficiently.
As we mentioned, Office 365 is now called Microsoft 365, or M365 for short, so be aware of that when buying your services. Here's where to do that.
So, does Office 365 come with Outlook for email?
Yes, Office 365 does include Outlook for email.
Outlook is an email client that helps users manage their emails, contacts, and calendars in a single place.
With Office 365, you can access Outlook from anywhere, on any device, and you get access to a range of features like a powerful spam filter, automatic replies, email tracking, and more. You can also use Outlook to schedule meetings, set reminders, and collaborate with others.
Our overall advice is to choose the correct licence for your business needs. Here are some guides to help you with that.
Those last two guides mention the business standard plan over B
asic and Pro. The reason is that most smaller SMEs start here and work up to the Microsoft 365 Pro plan. But - if you have multiple users across several devices and often locations handling sensitive customer, supplier or company data, then we highly recommend the Pro plan. This is because, with the Pro plan, you get added security.
What are the core functions of Outlook?
At its core, Outlook is an email client that handles efficient communications between you, your team and outside parties. It's straightforward to use, which has made it a popular choice for businesses.
Beyond the basics of email, you get access to calendars, task lists, and video calls, which help you and your team stay on top of business communications and the day-to-day.
Is there a difference between Outlook Online vs. Outlook Desktop?
Two versions of Outlook are available for users – Outlook Online and Outlook Desktop. Both versions share similar functionality, but there are some critical differences between the two.
Outlook Online is a web-based version of Outlook. It offers a simplified interface in comparison to the Desktop version but is easy to navigate and similar to the Outlook app on mobile devices. With Outlook Online, you can access your email, calendar, contacts, and tasks from anywhere, and you don't need to install any software on your device.
Outlook Desktop, however, is a fully-featured email client application installed on your computer or laptop. It provides more advanced features than Outlook Online, including the ability to work offline, customise settings, and manage your email data more efficiently. The desktop version also integrates better with other Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
The biggest advantage of using Outlook Desktop is that it provides better security features than Outlook Online. When you use Outlook Desktop, all your email data is stored locally on your computer, which means that your data is not accessible to anyone else unless they have physical access to your device.
Can you sync Outlook Online and Outlook Desktop?
Syncing Outlook Online and Outlook Desktop can be done in simple steps.
First, you need to ensure that both versions of Outlook are connected to the same email account.
Then, you can enable the synchronisation feature in Outlook Desktop settings, allowing you to access your email, calendar, and tasks from both versions of Outlook.
With this feature, you can work seamlessly between the two versions and choose whichever suits your needs at any time. However, it's worth remembering security when using Outlook across devices, which is why we always advise upgrading to a Pro plan for Office 365 (Microsoft 365).
Contact us today if you'd like more information about having a tech team install Microsoft plans across your business. We are IT Soho, a central London-based It support company and Microsoft partner.