????微軟尚未正式推出這款新的通訊應用。盡管上周其官網突然出現了一份標注著“微軟機密”的聲明，雖然后來迅速撤下，但還是被一名Twitter用戶發現了。微軟發言人拒絕對此應用置評。

????聲明中介紹了一款名為“Flow”的新移動應用，設計理念是實現“迅速、流暢又自然的對話”。用戶通過這款應用可以讓Outlook郵件以“全新方式”呈現，這很容易讓人聯想到即時通訊窗口。

????聲明中稱，“只有用Flow發起的對話和回復才會在該應用中顯示”，不過相關討論也會歸檔存入用戶的Outlook賬戶，將來大量簡潔的對話信息有可能替代零散的電子郵件。

????新應用將帶領微軟殺入競爭十分激烈的即時通訊服務領域，商業通訊應用開發商Slack和微軟旗下社交網絡平臺Yammer也都在爭搶這塊蛋糕。看起來Flow沒打算用即時通訊“消滅”電郵，而是將兩種通訊形式結合起來。這也正是微軟希望達到的目標。如今人們更熱衷閑聊式交流，如果微軟想確保Outlook跟上熱潮不落伍，就必須做到這一點。（財富中文網）

????譯者：Pessy

????審校：夏林

????Microsoft has not formally introduced the new messaging app, though an announcement labeled “Microsoft Confidential” did briefly crop up on its public website, which was spotted by Twitter user @h0x0d on Tuesday. A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on app.

????The announcement described a new mobile app called “Flow,” which was designed “for fast, fluid, natural conversations.” The app enables the user to draw Outlook emails into a new display, reminiscent of an instant messaging window.

????“Only conversations started in Flow and their replies show up in Flow,” reads the announcement, but the thread will also be stored in the user’s Outlook account, potentially replacing scattered email chains with a tidy stack of messages.

????The app would give Microsoft a unique entry point into a fiercely competitive market for instant messaging services, such as Slack and Microsoft’s own Yammer. Rather than “kill” email with instant messages, Flow appears to marry the two forms of communication. And that’s a match Microsoft is eager to make if it wants to ensure Outlook doesn’t get left behind in the craze for chattier communications.