The Google-Microsoft ecosystem war: a full history – The Verge

Microsoft gives up on new YouTube Windows Phone app, reverts back to web player

2013-10-07T17:17:50-04:00

YouTube Windows Phone

Microsoft appears to have given up, possibly temporarily, on its Windows Phone YouTube application. After Google blocked Microsoft's latest app almost two months ago, it was rendered useless with a "something happened, we're not sure what" error message. Microsoft has updated its Windows Phone YouTube app once again today, but it has simply reverted it back to the basic web player originally introduced nearly three years ago on the mobile platform.

At issue is a war over Microsoft's plans to offer a "fully featured" YouTube app for Windows Phone. Google wants Microsoft to build its app using HTML5, despite its own Android and iOS versions usin …

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Inside the bitter YouTube battle between Microsoft and Google

2013-08-16T10:00:08-04:00

youtube microsoft google feud

The gloves are off: Microsoft and Google find themselves battling in more product areas than ever while fighting a very public war of words. The latest spat has led Google to block a Microsoft-developed YouTube app for Windows Phone, despite a promise to collaborate between the two companies. In the past, Microsoft has launched public campaigns directly against Google: there's Gmail man, newspaper ads, Scroogled, and even an anti-Google Apps "Googlighting" campaign. Google's moves are less public, with curiously timed product changes, methods intended to block Windows Phone users, and the occasional sniping comment from Larry Page or Eric Sc …

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Microsoft blasts Google over YouTube block, claims reasons are ‘manufactured’

2013-08-15T15:57:47-04:00

YouTube Windows Phone

Earlier today Google confirmed to The Verge that the company is blocking Microsoft's newly released Windows Phone YouTube app. Though both companies committed to work with each other on a YouTube app, Google wasn't happy when Microsoft released an updated app earlier this week. Microsoft now claims that Google is purposely attempting to block a YouTube Windows Phone app, and that the search giant's objections "are nothing other than excuses."

Struggles over an HTML5 app

In a blog post outlining what Microsoft deputy general counsel David Howard describes as "the limits of Google's openness," the struggles between both companies are clear. Mi …

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Google blocks Microsoft’s new YouTube Windows Phone app

2013-08-15T13:07:49-04:00

YouTube WP8 error

Microsoft's recently released YouTube application for Windows Phone is being blocked by Google. In a statement issued to The Verge, Google confirms that the application has been blocked for violating the terms of use. Despite the two companies collaborating on an app based on HTML5, Microsoft's app is still breaking YouTube's terms of use. "Microsoft has not made the browser upgrades necessary to enable a fully-featured YouTube experience, and has instead re-released a YouTube app that violates our Terms of Service," says a Google spokesperson. "It has been disabled. We value our broad developer community and therefore ask everyone to adhere …

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Microsoft’s YouTube Windows Phone app returns following Google complaints

2013-08-13T18:12:49-04:00

YouTube Windows Phone

Microsoft's YouTube app for Windows Phone is returning to the Store today. After Google forced Microsoft to remove the app, the pair have been working together to create an updated application. In a statement issued to The Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson confirms the app will be made available today. "We've released an updated YouTube app for Windows Phone that provides the great experience our consumers expect while addressing the concerns Google expressed in May, including the addition of ads," says a spokesperson. Microsoft says it appreciates "Google's support in ensuring that Windows Phones customers have a quality YouTube experience an …

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Google extends Windows Phone calendar and contacts syncing until December 31st

2013-08-01T02:57:08-04:00

Windows Phone Google Sync

Google has granted new Windows Phone users another extension to access its Sync service until December 31st. The company had originally planned to drop support for new connections using the Exchange ActiveSync protocol on January 30th, but it extended the cut off date until July 31st to allow Microsoft to build CardDAV and CalDAV support into Windows Phone 8. "We've reached an agreement with Google to extend support for new Windows Phone connections to the Google Sync service through December 31, 2013," says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge.

Microsoft has enabled CalDAV and CardDAV support in its latest Windows Phone 8 upda …

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Windows Phone doesn’t have the ‘reach’ for Google to build a YouTube app, says Android chief

2013-05-30T12:20:09-04:00

sundar pichai

Google didn't build its own YouTube app for Windows Phone because the platform doesn't have "a critical mass of users," Android chief Sundar Pichai said today at the D11 conference. "It's simply a function of reach," he said, before recommending that Windows Phone users try the mobile web version of YouTube. "YouTube has a great HTML5 experience," he said.

Pichai's comments come in the wake of a public spat with Microsoft over YouTube on Windows Phone. Microsoft built its own version of the app, but it did not include ads, leading Google to demand that the company remove it from its app store. Last week Microsoft updated the app to address …

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Microsoft and Google working together on new YouTube Windows Phone app

2013-05-24T16:00:35-04:00

YouTube Windows Phone

Google is announcing today that it's working together with Microsoft on a new YouTube application for Windows Phone. Following a fight with Microsoft over its unauthorized YouTube app, the pair appear to have resolved some of their differences. Google demanded that Microsoft should remove its app by May 22nd, but Microsoft issued an update to address some of Google's concerns earlier this week. Google says "Microsoft and YouTube are working together to update the new YouTube for Windows Phone app to enable compliance with YouTube's API terms of service, including enabling ads, in the coming weeks."

Apply some pressure

Microsoft, for its part …

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Microsoft updates YouTube Windows Phone app on the day Google demanded it be removed

2013-05-22T16:35:19-04:00

Youtube Windows Phone

Microsoft is updating its Windows Phone YouTube app today. In a statement to The Verge, the company says it's making some changes to address concerns from Google. "Microsoft updated the Windows Phone YouTube app to address the restricted video and offline video access concerns voiced by Google last week," says a spokesperson. "We have been in contact with Google and continue to believe that our two companies can work together to hone an app that benefits our mutual customers, partners and content providers."

The update follows Google's demand for Microsoft to remove the YouTube app fully from its Windows Phone Store. Google objected to the …

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Microsoft responds to YouTube demands, ‘more than happy’ to include ads if Google allows it

2013-05-15T19:17:53-04:00

YouTube Copyright Trademark (STOCK)

Following Google's demands for Microsoft to remove its Windows Phone YouTube app, Microsoft has responded saying it's happy to include advertising. Google sent a cease and desist letter to Microsoft recently, with concerns that the Windows Phone YouTube app does not display ads. "We'd be more than happy to include advertising but need Google to provide us access to the necessary APIs," says a Microsoft spokesperson.

Microsoft appears to want to rectify the situation, noting Google CEO Larry Page's comments at I/O today. "In light of Larry Page's comments today calling for more interoperability and less negativity, we look forward to solving …

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