Microsoft’s Send app, which combines email with instant messaging, was first released for iOS in July this year for Office 365 users. As of now, the app is available in preview for Android users, and while it was originally only available for customers in the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft says Send for iPhone and Android has now been brought to app stores in the U.K., Brazil and Denmark. However, the app is still only available for Office 365 users with business and education accounts.

In a Microsoft Office blog it was explained that, “As well as new features, our customers have been asking us to increase the availability of Send. Specifically, there are requests for Send to be on more platforms and available in more countries.”

The app is not exactly the same as instant messaging. Send might be useful for instance when you would like to ‘send’ someone within an organization a quick message, such as ‘see you at 9’ and you don’t have their telephone number. If, however, you can find their email it allows users to send a quick message without a subject line or signature, etc, thereby combining email with messaging. One other thing is that the recipient of your message doesn’t need to have the app. It’s basically a time saver, while letting you communicate via email without having to feel bad about not including written formalities.

Microsoft also says that some features have been added to Send, which include the ability to now add people to chats, delete conversations, share locations, make phone calls and send individuals direct messages from group conversations. Oh, and now there’s GIF support, which Microsoft boldly tells us can, “Express more than words ever could.” The GIFs that mirrors your feelings will come in the form of animated cats. Seems Microsoft is really pushing the cute angle these days with yesterday’s news of the Skype Moji.

Send Beta is now available in the Google Play store for Android phones with operating system version 4.2 and up. Microsoft has said that it is currently working on a version for Windows Phone.

Photo credit: Microsoft Office blogs