This Microsoft Outlook update might finally stop people bugging you for a meeting
Let others know when you’re free in Outlook
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Managing your meeting workloads and time for work could soon be a lot easier forOutlookusers thanks to a new update.
Theemail clientis working on a new feature that will allow users to create their own specific windows of free time during the day for meetings or appointments.
This “bookable time” will be reserved to allow other people to arrange a slot, so bosses, employers or small business owners can have a set window for appointments separated from their everyday workload.
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Outlook meetings schedule
In its entry on theofficial Microsoft 365 roadmap, the company notes that the new bookable time feature complements the existing “Bookings with me” feature, which allows Outlook users to find mutual availability in their schedules in order to book a meeting.
Bookable time is currently listed as being “in development”, but has a scheduled general availability date of January 2023, meaning users shouldn’t have to wait too long. Upon release, it will be globally available to Outlook web users, with other platforms likely to follow soon.
Don’t panic, but Outlook for Web is moving a whole lot of stuff around>Our list of the best productivity software on the market right now>Outlook update solves a problem that should never have existed
This is the latest in a line of new additions toMicrosoftOutlook, as it looks to make itself a more intuitive and helpful platform for users everywhere.
It recently announced the introduction of"Focus Time", which will allow users to silence all notifications for a set period of time to power through those vital tasks.
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Blocking out time in thecalendarwill also mute notifications from both Outlook andMicrosoft Teams, cutting users off from two of the most disruptive presences faced by many workers.
They will be able to block out “focus events” directly from their Outlook calendar, which should be visible to anyone else that has access to it, meaning colleagues, co-workers or clients should leave you in peace.
Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK’s leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he’s not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.
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