Microsoft announces short message app Send

Microsoft has announced the latest creation to come out of their Microsoft Garage unit, a new app called Send. The app is meant to serve as a tool for “brief, snappy communications” where an email is overkill but use of an IM or SMS app may not be feasible. Initially Send will work for users who have Office 365 business or school email accounts, although Microsoft expects to make it more widely available to other Office users in the coming months.

Send functions sort of as an add-on for Outlook as that is where it gets contact information. Although full email messages are not available in Send, when users make use of Send those messages will eventually show up in Outlook along with normal email messages. This would be useful for those environments where users need to keep a record of all communications.

To streamline things, Send does not use a subject line or things like signatures from formal email. Instead, it functions more like an instant messaging platform for quick, succinct messages. Microsoft says one of the benefits is that contacts are based on emails rather than a data point like a cell phone number. Microsoft also includes a quick reply function so that users can fire off a quick “On my way” or “I’ll get back to you” response without having to type it out.

Currently Microsoft is only releasing the Send app for iPhone users in the U.S. and Canada. They indicate support for Android and Windows Phone devices will be coming soon.

source: Microsoft

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