The Gmail Android app now supports Exchange tasks created and managed by Microsoft Exchange accounts, Google announced. The new functionality allows the app to synchronize tasks with Microsoft Exchange accounts, meaning users can create new tasks using either service and will be provided with an up-to-date task list by both products. The newly supported tasks act just like the previously introduced ones, meaning users can modify the date and priority of each individual task, flag a particular email as a task, or create an entirely new task within the app. The new functionality was designed to provide Gmail users with a simple way to manage Exchange tasks using a familiar user interface, so there’s no learning involved in the process of starting to use Gmail to create and modify Exchange tasks. Like all other items, Exchange tasks can be marked as completed with a single swipe.
The new functionality is an extension of Google’s ongoing efforts to support more services within Gmail. The Mountain View-based Internet giant originally introduced support for Microsoft Exchange accounts in Gmail last spring and more similar additions to the company’s email app are expected to follow in the near future. The support for Exchange tasks within Gmail was rolled out as a client-side update to the Gmail app that started rolling out on the Google Play Store on Thursday, meaning the package should already be available for download in all parts of the world. The GIF below will provide you with a quick demonstration of how Exchange tasks look in the latest version of Gmail.
Apart from the newly added support for Exchange tasks, the new build of the Gmail Android app also ships with a number of additional shortcuts. Long-pressing the Gmail app icon will now allow you to not only compose a new email but also select up to three email accounts and drag them to your home screen as shortcuts. Just like the previous Gmail shortcut Google introduced, these new additions are only available on devices running Android 7.1 Nougat and later. You can download the latest version of Gmail by following the Google Play Store link below.