Windows Phone loses access to Google Maps

Earlier today it was discovered that you can no longer access the Google Maps website via devices running Windows Phone 7 or 8. While some may believe this is Google deliberately crippling its own services on a competing mobile platform, there's much more to the story than meets the eye.

The mobile version of Google Maps never officially supported Windows Phone, because the version of IE used on those devices doesn't have the WebKit support that Maps needs to work properly. That doesn't mean that Google couldn't deliberately be blocking the service on phones running Microsoft's OS, but it's more likely that the company fixed a bug that allowed these unsupported devices access in the first place.

Since Google doesn't seem too keen on developing apps for Windows Phone ?the company has a search app that hasn't been updated in over a year?and with the search giant reportedly preventing Microsoft from building a proper YouTube app, its unlikely that this development will make Google more popular with either Microsoft or the tens hundreds thousands of Windows Phone users out there that use its services. Google may be pushing for people to buy into using devices running its Android operating system, but if the company can make its offerings work on iOS then it can definitely do the same for Windows Phone.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2023757/windows-phone-loses-access-to-google-maps.html

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