Web/Mobile App Critique

 

A mobile application that I am familiar with and in fact use quite often is the mobile Outlook application for IOS. This application is essential for keeping up with workflow and support of customers as an IT Specialist.  As an IT Specialist, Trainer and Consultant part of my job is to interact and support customers concerning their pc equipment.  The times when I have to travel or perform mobile task related to the position, this app is perfectly suited for those tasks. The mobile Outlook application works very similar to the pc version in reading and creating email, checking calendar items, responding to email, listening to voicemail message, etc. but on a smaller screen. 

Unlike the pc version, it is compact which doesn’t allow for ease of access to file folders or added email boxes. You can access these however by selecting the “Inbox” selection at the top of the app. There you will see your folders, the sent and deleted items.

 

The mobility feature of having your emails at your disposal allows for quick access to your calendar items and the ability to respond to important work issues. Composing emails are quick and easy with the touch of a button using the app. Simply press the “New Mail” icon at the bottom right corner and then compose your email as if you would on a desktop or laptop.    

While the app is beneficial as a mobile app with the same features as the pc version, there are some flaws with its design. The app could be even more beneficial by adding the following improvements:

3. With IOS, there are way too many updates that render the app unusable until the completion. Scaling down on the updates or at least notifying the user of it pending and allowing the user to select when to run the update would be beneficial. There have been times I needed to use the app urgently and without notice it was performing an update and had to be reloaded before use. I couldn’t respond to what was needed on time.
4. Another recommendation for approval is to make accessing the address book easier. On the pc version there is an icon on the ribbon bar that allows you to access the address book and look up users. The mobile app has the same feature only you must go into composing an email and selecting the “To, Cc or Bcc” buttons to search for a user in your address book. Having the ribbon icon exposed to search for contacts and then composing an email directly to the contact would be much easier.
5. Outlook IOS has stricter privacy controls which limits the app’s ability to retrieve emails in the background. This can cause syncing issues and delays in receiving messages. There is a fix for this in the settings feature of the app but relaxing the controls like the pc app version would be much easier.

Even though there are some issues with the application, if address could improve its functionality, this mobile app is still one of my favorites to use in relation to my job and performing that job at peak level.