The last few weeks have been painful for Windows Phone users, whose patronage to Microsoft have left them with an uncertain future for Google’s services.
Google issued a cease and desist letter to the Redmond-based company, explaining that its redesigned (and excellent) YouTube app violated a number of criteria for using its extensible API. The lack of pre-roll ads, combined with the ability to download content to their devices, were in contempt of the streaming video service’s API terms of service. Google gave Microsoft until May 22nd to comply with the API or remove the app; Microsoft has done neither, so far. Instead, it removed the ability to download apps and implemented Google’s copyright partner flag for disallowing viewing based on device (mobile, tablet) or location, but it did not implement pre-roll ads.
Microsoft stated that it was unable to do so without gaining access to a version of the YouTube API that is only open to certain partners. Google announced today that it will be working with Microsoft to fix all the outstanding back-end issues with YouTube for Windows Phone, bringing it into compliance with the API and allowing its further development to go unimpeded.
While this will be a relief to beleaguered Windows Phone users, who lack the same number and quality of apps as Android and iOS, it only gives the impression of a detente between the two companies. Google still refuses to release many of its most-desired apps for the Microsoft platform, and likely doesn’t plan to do so until it gains momentum in the industry. Nokia has been attempting to fill those gaps — HERE Maps and HERE Drive come to mind — but it may be a long time until we see an official Google Maps or Gmail app.
Source: The Verge
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