UPDATED 03:57 EDT / MAY 27 2016

NEWS

Microsoft’s Office Online gets real-time chat capabilities

Microsoft’s Office Online is pretty comprehensive when it comes to collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit documents online, embed comments and so on. But sometimes that just isn’t enough – what people need is the ability to ask impulsive questions or make off-the-cuff remarks to speed things along.

With that in mind, Microsoft has said that Office Online, which is the browser-based version of its productivity tools (Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint and Word), now has Skype-enabled chat capabilities when linked to a commercial Office 365 account.

Skype has already been integrated with Office Online. Back in 2014, Microsoft introduced Skype Group chats in Office Online Word and PowerPoint docs saved in OneDrive for users who’ve linked their Skype and Microsoft accounts. This new functionality builds on that, and is aimed at enterprise customers with the idea being to foster closer collaboration between different teams.

“Simply click the blue Chat button to start a conversation with everyone editing in the browser at the same time, for any document stored in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business,” wrote Kirk Koenigsbauer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Office, in a blog post announcing the new feature. That “Chat” button, which appears next to the list of a document’s co-editors, opens up a side panel that looks a lot like a Skype chat window.

Koenigsbauer says the new real-time chat capability is designed for users to ask quick questions, brainstorm ideas, and leave reactions. It’s not a replacement for comments, which will remain in place after a document has been saved.

“Chat history is not saved when you close the document but can be copied and pasted if desired,” the company said in a second blog post. “Use Comments (on the Review tab on the ribbon) when you want to attach a comment to a specific selection within the document, such as when you need to ask if a word or phrase should be changed.”

The Web-based Outlook has also gained similar functionality, as it now integrates Skype Business conversations. Simply click on the Skype icon to begin a chat session, search through your contacts, or search for colleagues on Microsoft’s enterprise communications platform.


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