Microsoft to launch new apps and add-ins for Outlook.com email service

Microsoft is preparing for launch of new apps and add-ins for Outlook.com email service later this week.

According to the Verge, Microsoft has started publishing its Build 2015 developer conference schedule a little early and Outlook.com apps are part of the news. A listing for a session on Outlook.com apps reads "In under 5 minutes, you can build one app, list it in one store and have it appear in Outlook.com, Outlook desktop and Office 365."

For the Office 365 version of Outlook, the add-ins and apps are already available. This is the first time Microsoft has taken steps to bring these to Outlook.com consumers.

From the description, it appears like Microsoft wants to give developers the tools to make one app that will be able to run on Outlook, Outlook.com and Office 365, similar to their universal app plans for Windows 10.

Presently, the only apps for Outlook are focused largely on the enterprise as they only work with the Office 365 version.

Microsoft is also planning to detail its plans for opening up Office as a platform at Build this week, so the apps for Outlook.com are clearly part of that.