Microsoft accuses Google of intentionally blocking YouTube for Windows Phone.
It's been two years since Microsoft revamped its mobile efforts and introduced us to Windows Phone. Still, the company has a long way to go before it can stand up to the likes of Android in terms of apps. Back in October, Microsoft revealed that the Windows Phone marketplace now boasts 120,000 applications. In comparison, Google's Play Store hit a milestone of 700,000 apps around the same time. Obviously, Android's got a lot of apps that Windows Phone doesn't. However, it seems one app in particular is being kept away from Windows Phone on purpose.
According to Microsoft, Google is preventing Microsoft from offering consumers a fully featured YouTube app for the Windows Phone. Redmond first complained about this back in 2010, claiming that Google refused to give Windows Phones the same access to YouTube metadata that was offered to Android and iOS devices. This meant Microsoft's YouTube app was actually just a browser displaying the mobile version of YouTube. Microsoft actually went as far as to complain to the European Union and the FTC about Google's conduct. This week, Microsoft raised the issue once again.
"Despite government scrutiny, Google continues to block Microsoft from offering its customers proper access to YouTube. This is an important issue because consumers value YouTube access on their phone: YouTube apps on the Android and Apple platforms were two of the most downloaded mobile applications in 2012, according to recent news reports," Microsoft's Dave Heiner wrote.
"Yet Google still refuses to allow Windows Phone users to have the same access to YouTube that Android and Apple customers enjoy. Microsoft has continued to engage with YouTube personnel over the past two years to remedy this problem for consumers."
Heiner goes on to say that it appears YouTube itself wants all customers, Windows Phone users included, to have a great YouTube experience. However, Microsoft apparently heard last month that senior execs at Google "told [YouTube] not to enable a first-class YouTube experience on Windows Phones."
Google hasn't been shy about the lack of Google apps available for Microsoft's mobile platform. Just last month, Mountain View said it wouldn't be developing any apps for Windows Phone or Windows 8 until the platforms acquire more users.
"We have no plans to build out Windows apps. We are very careful about where we invest and will go where the users are but they are not on Windows Phone or Windows 8," Google's Clay Bavor told V3 in December.
Though Google may not have any interest in developing apps for Windows Phone (or Windows 8), refusing a competitor access to data that is made readily available to other competitors (in this case, Apple) isn't exactly conducive to a level playing field, is it? Google has yet to comment on Microsoft's allegations, but we'll be sure to update if we hear anything.
They aren't accusing Google of not developing the app, they're accusing them of not giving them access to make a native app. You're comparing apples and oranges with MS not releasing Office on Linux. The document specs used in Office are open, thats why Open Office can work within .doc files.
I enjoy Google, but if they're going to screw customers over because "You didn't buy OUR products" then a big middle finger to you bud.
Don't screw with customers to get at your competitor.
9!
In a slightly related topic....
I wonder what would happen if Google dropped youtube and googlemaps support for the iPhone?
great point sir!
we need free software, free hardware, and free bandwith.
Free as in Freedom... not free as in zero cost.
I enjoy Google, but if they're going to screw customers over because "You didn't buy OUR products" then a big middle finger to you bud.
Don't screw with customers to get at your competitor.
They aren't accusing Google of not developing the app, they're accusing them of not giving them access to make a native app. You're comparing apples and oranges with MS not releasing Office on Linux. The document specs used in Office are open, thats why Open Office can work within .doc files.
Free? Sorry, I want to get paid for the hard work I do.
I wouldn't say worse, fan boys are fan boys.
True, MS does not support Linux with software, but they have always been pretty open to supporting Linux on a more fundamental platform level. MS is no longer looking to support specific software to other platforms anyways, it is all about cloud services for other platforms. Want to use linux or MacOS? then look to using office 365, or some other web based software. It is not as convenient as local software, but it can still get the job done.
The real issue here is that of Google (not linux) and Microsoft are not playing nicely together. MS accuses (often rightfully so) Google of all manner of data stealing and mining, while google uses their new-found power in the mobile market to keep MS locked into a fading desktop market.
many ppl didn't notice, but google DOES employ shill like any other company
Oh, refering desktop market as fading? 10 years later many people will still be using desktop. Current mobile platform is still not able to replace desktop completely and it is unlikely ARM can be scaled up too much without encountering the same power vs performance issue that Intel CPU has.