Microsoft has just added one of the most, if not the most, requested features to Outlook.com: IMAP support.

Microsoft officials used an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit to announce the IMAP -- and OAuth -- additions to Outlook.com.

In a post to the Outlook blog on September 12, Microsoft execs provided more as to why they added IMAP alongside Microsoft's own Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) protocol support. For those devices that still haven't (and may never) support EAS, there's now IMAP.

From that post:

"Outlook.com already supports the industry's best email connectivity with Exchange ActiveSync (EAS), which is available on the majority of smartphones and tablets, including Windows Phone, iOS, and Android devices, as well as the Windows 8 Mail app and Outlook 2013. With today's announcement, we now have a richer email experience across devices and apps, including those not using EAS, such as Mac Mail and Thunderbird on a Mac."

TripIt, Sift, Slice, motley*bunch, Unroll.me, OtherInbox, and Context.IO are rolling out updates today that integrate with the new IMAP support in Outlook.com. Microsoft is expecting other new ISV-developed integrations to follow.

Outlook.com IMAP supports IMAP version 4 revision 1 as defined by RFC 3501, according to the new blog post.