Microsoft Edge could soon become the obvious choice for Office users
Microsoft Edge is getting a new Office integration
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Microsoftis testing a new feature for itsweb browserEdge that introduces tighter integration with itsMicrosoft 365suite ofproductivity apps.
As noted in aposton theMicrosoft Edgesubreddit, the latest early-access build includes a new option that allows users to launch straight into web-basedWord,PowerPointandExceldocuments.
To access the feature, users can right click on an open browser tab and select the “New Office tab” option in the context menu.
Currently, the Office integration is only available to members of the Microsoft Edge Insider Canary channel, who have opted to receive the most experimental features as soon as possible. Even then, reports suggest only a portion of Canary members have been given access.
Assuming no major issues are encountered in testing, however, the functionality should be extended to all users soon enough.
Office in Microsoft Edge
Although thelatest market share figuresshow Edge is still a long way off market leaderGoogleChrome, or evenApple’sSafari, the new Office integration will act as additional incentive for the Microsoft 365 customers (of which there are many millions) to make the switch.
The rise ofremote workinghas also placed new emphasis on web-basedoffice software, which facilitates real-timecollaborationbetween employees no longer able to consult one another in-person.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
As such, although the new Edge feature probably falls into the nice-to-have category, easy access to web-based versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel will be attractive to plenty of users. And in future, there’s no reason the option can’t be expanded to include other Microsoft 365 services too, such asOneDrive,Outlook,Teamsand more.
With few remaining Internet Explorer and Edge Legacy users to funnel towards Edge, Microsoft will have to work out how to draw people away from other major browsers if its service is to continue to grow. A new Office integration could at least go some way to achieving this goal.
Joel Khalili is the News and Features Editor at TechRadar Pro, covering cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud, AI, blockchain, internet infrastructure, 5G, data storage and computing. He’s responsible for curating our news content, as well as commissioning and producing features on the technologies that are transforming the way the world does business.
7 myths about email security everyone should stop believing
Best Usenet client of 2024
Smeg Combi Steam Oven review: a multi-functional countertop oven that looks stunning and cooks well
