Why, oh why does MS have to complicate things? I don't understand really.
As a 365 subscriber, I can use either the Outlook app, the OWA app, or the native Mail app. All three have different options. If I engage Intune then the native mail app will not work. So, to utilize Intune across the organization I have to then force the staff to chose OWA or Outlook.
However, there is no real explanation why I would recommend, chose, or support one app over the other. There is no explanation from MS on why they have created two apps that do basically the same things. And, there is no explanation from MS why one app has some key features, and the other has other key features ...? I am quite bothered by this approach and would like to remind MS that people need a simplified yet rhobust app. Outlook appears to be the winner but it is missing a cruicial element.
Outlook -
1. From a all-around standpoint the Outlook app is best, as it makes affiliation with users, emails, and files. This is amazing actually. I can touch a contactcs name and see their related mail, calendar events, and shared files. However, I cannot edit their contact. Very short sighted.
2. Outlook is supported in Intune, and as an SPE subscriber, this is great. So, i can open a file in OneDrive, and send it to Outlook to email or reference.
OWA -
1. Correct me if I'm wrong, but OWA is the only official "365 only" app. E.g. you have to be a 365 subscriber to use it. Outlook.com/hotmail.com users cannot use it. So, why doesn't this app then have access to 365 content such as files, notes, etc. ???
2. Intune, from what I can tell, doesn't support OWA. Yet, Intune is a major feature of being on the E5 plan. If I open a file in OneDrive on my phone I can only send it to Outlook, not OWA. So, if I chose to use OWA instaed of Outlook then A, I can't see my OneDrive files in the app itself (OWA), and, I can't select a OneDrive file and open it/send it through OWA as it's not an option?
3. I can add/edit contacts in OWA, but not in Outlook. I mean, let's be perfectly real here. People need to add and update contact details. With a one-way sync I can see a contacts directly on my phone, this makes Whatsapp or iMessage convenient. However, the moment they say hey here is my new phone number or email address I can't update it into my 365 environment without going through a browser or to my computer. If I update the contact entry in my native contacts app it basically creates a duplciate and updates the duplicate because it's a one-way sync ???
**** conclusion
AAAARRRRRGGGGGGG !
Microsoft has deemed the OWA app the official 365 app, as in you have to have a subscription to use it, so if that doesn't make it the "official" app then I'm confused just in their marketing approach.
Microsoft's "collaboration" tools are so advanced yet I can't see files in the OWA app from coworkers. (only in Outlook or OneDrive)
Please, let me know why this decision has been made to release two apps that do different things under the same "365 works with them" mindset. It seems like Outlook is the big winner, so why do you have OWA?
thanks, a frustrated admin p
