Microsoft adds advanced rules to webmail service Outlook.com

Microsoft has added powerful filtering capabilities to its webmail service Outlook.com. These should make it easier for users to manage the flow of emails. There are also other changes.

According to the software giant, the available filtering capabilities of the new ‘advanced rules’ feature are more powerful than those of competing webmail services. For example, the advanced rules offer various new selectors, including checking whether the sender of an e-mail is in the address book and making certain time selections. After making a selection, the user can determine the desired action, for example deleting an email.

In addition to new filtering options, Outlook.com will also get an undo button. This makes it possible to undo unintended actions, such as accidentally deleting an email or moving a message. The option is not only accessible via the undo button, but also via the shortcut Ctrl+z.

Microsoft has also made some minor changes to its webmail service, such as a reply button in the message. As a result, a reply can be formulated directly to an e-mail without having to open an empty window. Furthermore, tweaks have been made to the address book, so that an Outlook.com user can more quickly return to previous conversations or that he can start a conversation via, for example, Skype or Facebook. These updates will be available to all Outlook.com users in the coming weeks.