Microsoft Garage introduces Invite for iPhone, makes it easier to organize meetings
Microsoft has released a group-scheduling app called Invite, and has made it available first for the iPhone.
Invite, available for iPhones and iPads as of September 24 from the Apple AppStore, requires iOS 8.1 or later. The app is available for now in the U.S. and Canada only. It is “coming soon” for Windows Phone and Android phones, according to a Microsoft blog post.
Here’s how Invite works:
- You suggest times that work for you, and then invite attendees.
You can use the app to invite anyone with an email address—even if they are outside your organization. - They select all the times they can attend.
Once you’ve invited your attendees, they receive an email or an app notification if they have Invite installed. Attendees can then choose on the times that work for them, from the app itself or from a browser. They can also see what options work best for other attendees. - Once everyone has responded, you pick the time that works best.
You choose a final date and time whenever you’re ready. Just pick the time that most people can make the meeting and tap Send Calendar Invites to get it on their calendars.
Some of the FAQ’s have been answered by Microsoft here.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How does Invite work with an Office 365 account?
A. Invite can be used with any email address, but works best with an Office 365 business or school subscription. When you sign in using an Office 365 business or school subscription, a list of your frequent contacts are displayed—so you can invite relevant people quickly and easily. Attendees will also see everything as coming directly from you, and will be able to directly accept or decline the meeting like a regular Exchange meeting request. If you send invites from a non-Office 365 account, your attendees will instead receive invites in the form of an email containing a .ics file.
Q. Do the meetings scheduled from Invite show up in my calendar or somewhere separate?
A. They will show up in the calendar of the account you have signed in with.
Q. How is this different than the “Send Availability” feature included in Outlook on iOS and Android?
A. The “Send Availability” feature in Outlook is great for sharing your calendar availability to organize meetings. Invite, however, provides additional automation to this process. You suggest times that work, attendees choose the times that work for them, and their responses are automatically summarized for you. No need to cross-reference potential meeting times yourself.
Q. Does the Invite app show calendar availability (free/busy) for all event participants who are inside your organization?
A. No. Invite allows users to suggest times that work for them, rather than relying on what’s advertised in calendar free/busy availability.
