Microsoft is testing a new feature for its Edge web browser that features tighter integration with its Microsoft 365 suite of productivity apps. As noted in an article on the Microsoft Edge subreddit, the latest early access version includes a new feature that allows users to directly access Word, PowerPoint and Excel web documents. To access the feature, users can right-click on an open browser tab and select the "New Office Tab" option from the context menu. Currently, the Office integration is only available to members of the Microsoft Edge Insider Canary, who have opted to receive the most experimental features as soon as possible. Even then, reports suggest that only a fraction of members from the Canary Islands had access. However, assuming no major issues were found during testing, the functionality should roll out to all users soon enough.
Office in Microsoft Edge
Although the latest market share figures show that Edge is still a long way from the market leader Google Chrome, or even Apple's Safari, the new Office integration will act as an added incentive for Microsoft 365 customers (of which there are several million) to make the switch. . The rise of remote work has also placed a new emphasis on web-based office software, which facilitates real-time collaboration among employees who can no longer consult with each other in person. As such, while Edge's new feature probably falls into the nice category, the easy access to the web versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel will appeal to many users. And in the future, there's no reason the option can't be extended to include other Microsoft 365 services as well, like OneDrive, Outlook, Teams, and more. With few remaining Internet Explorer and Edge Legacy users to funnel to Edge, Microsoft will have to figure out how to steer people away from other major browsers if its service continues to grow. A new Office integration could at least help achieve this goal.- Protect your privacy online with the best VPN services available