Microsoft highlights new Mango mail functions

Microsoft has posted some new videos (embedded below) depicting its Windows Phone 7 (Mango) team members discussing upcoming email features in the forthcoming OS overhaul. The most notable of the new features is e-mail conversations, which has been done somewhat differently to other operating systems from a UI perspective. Instead of taking users out of the inbox in order to see a conversation thread, for example, the MS implementation allows users to quickly see the thread within the inbox.

In a very desktop-like function, Mango will allow users to select the whole conversation and either archive the lot in one go, or delete them all at once as well. Conversation threads can also be read like stories, with the oldest email placed at the top of the thread, allowing a user to logically work their way through the most recent emails.

In the second video, the most notable feature discussed is the new MS take on unified inboxes. The approach in Mango is the addition of mailbox linking. Instead of a unified in-box that combines all a users work and personal email accounts, mailbox linking allows users to combine only certain inboxes that they choose.

Although not the most exciting developments in the mobile OS space, from a usability perspective, they look like worthwhile functional enhancements that both iOS and Android users alike would likely wish to see integrated into their mobile OS of choice. [via Phone Arena]

By Electronista Staff