Google to Restore Maps Access for Windows Phone Users

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
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May 9, 2000
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Google has rescinded its earlier order to redirect Windows 8 users to Google.com and is restoring Maps access to Windows Phone 8 users after cutting service access earlier this week. As of Sunday morning, Google has admitted the company was deliberately blocking Windows 8 phone users from use of Google Maps.

So today, Google was forced to backtrack and admit that it was choosing to block Maps access from Windows phone for other reasons, namely that it didn't think that Internet Explorer was good enough.
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Google, harvesting user data to advertise, putting scammy trojan horse software out in the form of a "helpful" web browser, sticking cameras pretty much everywhere the sun doesn't shine is engaging in anti-competitive business practices? How's that "Don't be evil," thing working out, hmm?
 
and who even has a windows 8 phone and cares about this? :p
 
Techx said:
and who even has a windows 8 phone and cares about this? :p
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I have a Lumia 920 and I care.

I personally never use Google's mapping service (Nokia Drive for the win), but this was just pain anti-competitive. If Google is going to continue behaving this way towards other companies, then there's a serious problem brewing.
 
Not shedding any tears over Microsoft being the victim of anti-competitive business practices.
 
Unknown-One said:
I have a Lumia 920 and I care.

I personally never use Google's mapping service (Nokia Drive for the win), but this was just pain anti-competitive. If Google is going to continue behaving this way towards other companies, then there's a serious problem brewing.
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They did this to Microsoft...

Pot, meet kettle.
 
Techx said:
and who even has a windows 8 phone and cares about this? :p
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I do and nokia drive is 10x better than gmaps ever thought about being. MS maps sucks horribly bad, and when I had an HTC wmp I hated not being able to use gmaps.
 
You can't very well condemn microsoft for including their own browser in their O/S for free. A judge ruled netscape scuppered themselves not microsoft. Who wanted to pay 69.95$ if you were not a student or teacher? Everyone else gets to have their own browser.. even as they hold dominant positions in their field. BUt even so (with legal fault ascertained) ... why hate on microsoft and then give a pass to someone you think has done the same thing. an objective response would be to say anyone pouring hazardous waste into the environment IS bad. I just got a windows phone :) and am loving it.
 
oops forgot to mention my main point --windows mobile grew at 240% last year vs 18% for ios. It will soon have a population that can't be dismissed. (just like android before it) competition in an ecosystem is a healthy thing.
 
CvP said:
So, two wrongs make it right? Stop acting like little brats.
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If this were Apple or even Linux complaining, they'd actually have a valid argument here. For years they played second fiddle and MS did their best to make sure they were the only game in town and the must-have applications (and even gaming: DX) were Windows only.

The fact is Google is now a competitor and they have a right to deny services. If MS doesn't like it, they can decide to make their own maps application. That's what Apple did, remember? Granted, it was a miserable failure, but Apple at least realizes that you either take the good with the bad or you shut up and do something about it.

Not one of these 3 is an angel and if I had the choice I'd avoid them all like the plague, but that doesn't mean what Google did is any different than what MS has done over the years to other smaller competitors.

It's not even anywhere near as bad either. How is refusing to make an application for WP8 any different than what Facebook has said for Metro when they claimed they're not even interested in making any Metro applications. Are you accusing Facebook of monopolistic practices? Don't like it? You can still access it through the web. Want it as an app? Buy something else.

Get real, people.
 
MS has their own maps app. It sucks, and Google was simply blocking access for mobile IE.

MS has been slapped for years for anit trust and even shipping their own os with a browser. If they have to deal with that type of regulation then so should apple and google.

No one cares about linux but a handful of geeks, get over pelo. If it was so great everyone would choose to use it.
 
pelo said:
If this were Apple or even Linux complaining, they'd actually have a valid argument here. For years they played second fiddle and MS did their best to make sure they were the only game in town and the must-have applications (and even gaming: DX) were Windows only.

The fact is Google is now a competitor and they have a right to deny services. If MS doesn't like it, they can decide to make their own maps application. That's what Apple did, remember? Granted, it was a miserable failure, but Apple at least realizes that you either take the good with the bad or you shut up and do something about it.

Not one of these 3 is an angel and if I had the choice I'd avoid them all like the plague, but that doesn't mean what Google did is any different than what MS has done over the years to other smaller competitors.

It's not even anywhere near as bad either. How is refusing to make an application for WP8 any different than what Facebook has said for Metro when they claimed they're not even interested in making any Metro applications. Are you accusing Facebook of monopolistic practices? Don't like it? You can still access it through the web. Want it as an app? Buy something else.

Get real, people.
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Bullshit pelo, google maps is a service that is available on any browser, this is a redirection on purpose for the sake of blocking, this is not by google's set of rules but is an exception it's not at all comparable to a proprietary service.

They weren't refusing to make an app for windows 8, when it picked up a windows phone user string it would redirect you unable to use google maps. Did you even read anything before you starting jerking it to your anti microsoft rants?

Google Maps has never officially been supported on Windows Phone, but today many users have reportedly been cut off entirely. Frustrated owners report that trying to visit the web version of Google's popular service results in them being redirected to the company's main website
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Lots of tears squirting over "evil Google" and conveniently no one's bothered to mention the fact MS fired the first shot by locking Google search out of the default search button on WP8. Your only choice there is Bing, Bing and Bing.

Cry me a river
 
odditory said:
Lots of tears squirting over "evil Google" and conveniently no one's bothered to mention the fact MS fired the first shot by locking Google search out of the default search button on WP8. Your only choice there is Bing, Bing and Bing.

Cry me a river
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Did they just flat out block google search from the phone? That is what google did with their maps, also why does everyone want a race to the shit cesspit to the bottom.
 
Semantics said:
Did they just flat out block google search from the phone? That is what google did with their maps, also why does everyone want a race to the shit cesspit to the bottom.
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You can still access it with Google Chrome. They didn't completely block them out unless Microsoft completely blocks out Google Chrome, and thus Google itself.

That's what competition is, boys. There's no reason MS has to make MS Office compatible with Android, yet that's exactly what's going to happen in a few months. Why? Because that's a lot of money that MS is missing out on and in mobile it's MS who's the small fish in a big pond.

Google isn't in the same predicament. They went about it in a smarter fashion (like Apple, oddly enough) by offering competing services (Google Docs) so people still have a choice on Google's platforms. Apple did the same exact thing with iWork, and then when they realized they heavily relied on Google Maps they went out and at least attempted to make a competing and compelling alternative. Google still offers their maps and stuff to iOS because they, too, don't want to miss out on potential customers. Meanwhile, MS has been sitting around with its thumb up its ass and is now whining when they don't get their way.

They could learn a thing or two from Google and Apple. There's no reason why a big competitor is going to make anything easy for you. They're a competitor, not an ally. If a competitor is too large to ignore then you work something out (Apple and Google). If a competitor is relatively tiny then they aren't worth the trouble and it's better to get rid of them completely (MS).

Thus it's up to the consumer to pick and choose between what platform offers the most for them. You chose MS. MS doesn't have Google Maps and MS is still a small player in mobile so they're going to get pushed around until they carve out a significant market share that can't be ignored by the others.

If MS were in Google's place they would be doing the same exact thing. It's not about being nice, it's about money.
 
Semantics said:
Did they just flat out block google search from the phone? That is what google did with their maps, also why does everyone want a race to the shit cesspit to the bottom.
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Straw man argument. The fact is they blocked Google search from the big search button on the phone - the first and main point of entry to search on those devices at least as MS has envisioned it. So who cares if people can still open up browser and type Google, when many/most will just be using the search button that has only one choice.

Googles decision about blocking access was odd but then again its Microsoft we're talking about here, a co. with a far greater tendency and longer track record of anti competitive behavior. The only thing Microsoft is frustrated about is not being Google first.
 
pelo said:
You can still access it with Google Chrome. They didn't completely block them out unless Microsoft completely blocks out Google Chrome, and thus Google itself.

That's what competition is, boys. There's no reason MS has to make MS Office compatible with Android, yet that's exactly what's going to happen in a few months. Why? Because that's a lot of money that MS is missing out on and in mobile it's MS who's the small fish in a big pond.

Google isn't in the same predicament. They went about it in a smarter fashion (like Apple, oddly enough) by offering competing services (Google Docs) so people still have a choice on Google's platforms. Apple did the same exact thing with iWork, and then when they realized they heavily relied on Google Maps they went out and at least attempted to make a competing and compelling alternative. Google still offers their maps and stuff to iOS because they, too, don't want to miss out on potential customers. Meanwhile, MS has been sitting around with its thumb up its ass and is now whining when they don't get their way.

They could learn a thing or two from Google and Apple. There's no reason why a big competitor is going to make anything easy for you. They're a competitor, not an ally. If a competitor is too large to ignore then you work something out (Apple and Google). If a competitor is relatively tiny then they aren't worth the trouble and it's better to get rid of them completely (MS).

Thus it's up to the consumer to pick and choose between what platform offers the most for them. You chose MS. MS doesn't have Google Maps and MS is still a small player in mobile so they're going to get pushed around until they carve out a significant market share that can't be ignored by the others.

If MS were in Google's place they would be doing the same exact thing. It's not about being nice, it's about money.
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I'm sorry when you're using IE10 Windows Phone when you type in google.com does it not go there? Because when you use a windows phone and you type in maps.google.com you get redirected by Google back to their mobile search site. Don't believe me change your user-agent string to ie10 on windows phone 8
Code: 
Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; MSIE 10.0; Windows Phone 8.0; Trident/6.0; ARM; Touch; IEMobile/10.0; <Manufacturer>; <Device> [;<Operator>])
This is not google saying they don't want to make a maps app or want to make their map service work better for windows phone, this is them blocking for the first time a browser from their maps service.

You can as i checked access it using safari on ipad or iphone, so again what policy is this?

IF Microsoft was in the same boat? I'm sorry can you still access bing.com/maps on an andriod phone using chrome? Just checked yes you can.
 
Microsoft is going into mobile and expecting them, Apple and Google, to simply take a step backwards so MS can have their space. Why? Because you say so.

Google isn't going to offer their services to a competitor unless they absolutely feel they have to. Google can't ignore iOS market share. Google can't ignore MS's desktop market share either. Google CAN ignore MS in mobile because they're pretty much a nobody with low single digit market share. Does MS bend over backwards to offer Office for Linux on the desktop with its market share equivalent to MS's in ultramobile? Get real.

Get real.

If you want to use Google's services then next time you should probably buy Google. If you want to use Apple's services and its OS then buy Apple. Likewise, if MS has something you need and you buy Google then you shouldn't be complaining but rather contemplating your next purchase decision.

It's not Google's job to make Microsoft's customers an easier place to live. Google looks out for itself, its customers and how much money they can make, with everything else is an afterthought.

And if you want to access Google's Maps or other Google stuff then you should probably install Chrome. Google's own browser is "certified." When you're a Microsoft customer Google owes you no favors unless you're a large enough market that it is forced to care.
 
pelo said:
Microsoft is going into mobile and expecting them, Apple and Google, to simply take a step backwards so MS can have their space. Why? Because you say so.

--snip--

And if you want to access Google's Maps or other Google stuff then you should probably install Chrome. Google's own browser is "certified." When you're a Microsoft customer Google owes you no favors unless you're a large enough market that it is forced to care.
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Did not know there was Chrome for WP8. It's all bs though. I mean really redirecting you because of your browser choice.

:rolleyes:
 
pelo said:
Google isn't going to offer their services to a competitor unless they absolutely feel they have to. Google can't ignore iOS market share. Google can't ignore MS's desktop market share either. Google CAN ignore MS in mobile because they're pretty much a nobody with low single digit market share. Does MS bend over backwards to offer Office for Linux on the desktop with its market share equivalent to MS's in ultramobile? Get real.

Get real.
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Twice.

Office for Linux is totally different then what's going on around here. You know it.

But hey, don't let the facts affect your daily Microsoft bashing spree. We all know that if the roles were reversed you would be up in arms for Google.
 
Unknown-One said:
I have a Lumia 920 and I care.

I personally never use Google's mapping service (Nokia Drive for the win), but this was just pain anti-competitive. If Google is going to continue behaving this way towards other companies, then there's a serious problem brewing.
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Exactly how many Microsoft apps you see on the Google Play store? It's just that Google Maps is really that good. But honestly I think that Google was right to do so.

“IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality,” the statement reads. “As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that’s why there is no redirect for those users.”
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So basically IE for Windows Phone just really sucks. No ability to pan or zoom does justify blocking these phones users from accessing it. Though to be fair they do let you if you use FireFox.

It's better to offer no service then offer bad service. BTW, doesn't Bing Maps work just as good anyway?
 
sonsonate said:
Did not know there was Chrome for WP8. It's all bs though. I mean really redirecting you because of your browser choice.

:rolleyes:
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That's competition. People can blame Google, but the fact is the people complaining aren't loyal Google customers because they went out and bought an MS phone.

Why not complain to MS because they can't offer a competing service? Apple has heard that for ages from their own customers and that's why they've been forced to deal with things on their own. As much hate as that company gets - and much of it deservedly so - they understand that they can't rely on anyone but themselves: cutting off Samsung and offering alternatives to Google and MS software. That's a lesson that was learned after years of struggling after being completely ignored by MS. It's also a lesson that MS has yet to learn. It's as if they're still living in the 90s and they're the hottest thing since sliced bread.

For those that can't quite comprehend it, here it is in the form of a short play.
___________________________________

Microsoft: Hey, Google. What the fuck, bro? You're cutting us off just like that?

Google: Uh... yea? You said you're going bigtime with your mobile initiative. What the hell do you expect?

Microsoft: That's messed up. I thought we were cool, and now you just throw away our friendship.

Apple: *snicker*

Google: No, we were never cool. We only let you have Chrome, Maps, Gmail and the rest on the desktop because we couldn't ignore you in your own territory. Now you're in our territory, and if you don't like it you can do your own maps.

Apple: It's a lot harder than it looks. Trust me.

Microsoft: What the hell am I supposed to tell all of these people? That they can't use Google Maps? What the fuck, bro?!

Google: That's not my problem, they're your customers. You deal with them.

Microsoft: Et tu, Brute? Are you gonna side with me or with this asshole?

Apple: Side with you? Are you fucking serious? After what you did to me? Fuck off. And btw, take Office with you.
 
This isnt about Google blocking it. Its their right. Its the fact they then turnaround and claim themselves the freedom fighters of the internet and their little fans eat it up. Google is at Microsofts level, no more no less.
 
SkribbelKat said:
Google, harvesting user data to advertise, putting scammy trojan horse software out in the form of a "helpful" web browser, sticking cameras pretty much everywhere the sun doesn't shine is engaging in anti-competitive business practices? How's that "Don't be evil," thing working out, hmm?
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Seeing as almost none of that is true, I'm very glad I don't live in your fantasy world.

Paul_Johnson said:
Ah Google, getting worse and worse by the day.
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So, wait, Google shouldn't have removed the redirect? Or are they just damned if they do, damned if they don't?

Boo fucking hoo, Windows Phone users couldn't access maps.google.com for an entire fucking day - let's all go ape shit over something so trivial!
 
kllrnohj said:
Seeing as almost none of that is true, I'm very glad I don't live in your fantasy world.
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Because they don't collect data, they haven't driven cameras attached to cars all over the place, Chrome doesn't default you to Google's DNS servers for name resolution, and the FTC grumbling at them for being anti-competitive didn't recently happen. The only truth was the part about them putting cameras in your secret passages. ;)

It's okay to luff teh Creepy Uncle Google. Stockholm is that way though ---->
 
kllrnohj said:
So, wait, Google shouldn't have removed the redirect? Or are they just damned if they do, damned if they don't?

Boo fucking hoo, Windows Phone users couldn't access maps.google.com for an entire fucking day - let's all go ape shit over something so trivial!
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lol, you mad bro?


Google has been going downhill for a while, this is just another notch they have dropped.
 
Ashbringer said:
Exactly how many Microsoft apps you see on the Google Play store? It's just that Google Maps is really that good. But honestly I think that Google was right to do so.
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Google Maps isn't that great, like I said, i use Nokia Drive for GPS purposes.

I keep gmaps pro (unofficial Google Maps app) installed "just in case," but I havn't actually opened it in weeks.

Ashbringer said:
So basically IE for Windows Phone just really sucks. No ability to pan or zoom does justify blocking these phones users from accessing it. Though to be fair they do let you if you use FireFox.
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Wrong. If you force a different User Agent (avoiding the redirect) then WP8 displays the page perfectly. Panning and zooming work fine. Rendering is nice and quick.

For reference, IE10 on WP8 uses EXACTLY the same rendering engine as its desktop counterpart. If Google is going to block WP8 running IE10 for not rendering properly, then they should also be blocking desktop IE10, because it renders the page identially.

What's that? it's not blocked in desktop IE10? Gee, how about that...

Ashbringer said:
BTW, doesn't Bing Maps work just as good anyway?
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Yup, Bing Maps works fine (at least, it works fine in the US). Its gotten very, very good since Nokia merged their mapping data into Microsoft's.
 
Paul_Johnson said:
lol, you mad bro?


Google has been going downhill for a while, this is just another notch they have dropped.
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You still didn't answer the question, but I'm going to take your statement at the most logical interpretation and say you are upset Google restored access.

In which case, cool story bro. But you probably shouldn't hate WP users so much.

SkribbelKat said:
Because they don't collect data, they haven't driven cameras attached to cars all over the place, Chrome doesn't default you to Google's DNS servers for name resolution, and the FTC grumbling at them for being anti-competitive didn't recently happen. The only truth was the part about them putting cameras in your secret passages. ;)

It's okay to luff teh Creepy Uncle Google. Stockholm is that way though ---->
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Street view != "sticking cameras pretty much everywhere the sun doesn't shine"

The FTC found *no evidence of anti-competitive behavior*

Chrome does not default you to Google's DNS server

They do collect data, though, hence the "almost" in my statement.

So no, I'm not suffering from Stockholm syndrome, I just don't live in your fucked up fantasy world. All that tinfoil seems to be messing with your brain, dude.
 
kllrnohj said:
It doesn't - which is why it's a good thing Google didn't do anything illegal...
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Using your market dominance in one area to subsidize the crushing of your competitors in another area is illegal.

This is exactly what Microsoft was accused of. They supposedly used their dominance in the OS market to crush the competition in the browser market.

As such, using your dominance in mapping and then denying your mapping service to a platform specifically to make that platform seem undesirable is illegal.
 
kllrnohj said:
You still didn't answer the question, but I'm going to take your statement at the most logical interpretation and say you are upset Google restored access.

In which case, cool story bro. But you probably shouldn't hate WP users so much.
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Rhetorical questions don't require answers. Though given your missing the obvious point, perhaps you should reexamine your interpretation.
 
kllrnohj said:
Street view != "sticking cameras pretty much everywhere the sun doesn't shine"
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It does. In urban areas, buildings block sunlight from reaching the streets so the sun doesn't shine there. :)

The FTC found *no evidence of anti-competitive behavior*
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News Flash!
http://www.hardocp.com/news/2013/01/03/ftc_ends_google_probe_mild_reprimand

Chrome does not default you to Google's DNS server
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Packet analyzer and get back to me on that. :)

They do collect data, though, hence the "almost" in my statement.
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From multiple sources including location-based data from a GPS leash that you pay to have in your pocket or purse along with YouTube viewing habits, text searching your e-mail, tracking the sites you visit through AdSense, what you look at in their maps program, and (coming soon) the pair of glasses you stick on your head.

So no, I'm not suffering from Stockholm syndrome, I just don't live in your fucked up fantasy world. All that tinfoil seems to be messing with your brain, dude.
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You are and using profanity doesn't make you seem very realistic, but angry and on the attack because your perceptions conflict with reality and I happen to be the presenter of them.

Being reasonable, it's probably not possible to avoid everything Google does wrong and they probably aren't up to too much nefarious stuff aside from farming you for money by targeting advertisements at you which are invasive, but not over the top insane. However, 95% or so of their money comes from getting ads onto a screen that you're looking at which means the survival of the business. Resorting to underhanded, creepy looking stuff is the way they choose to operate. Expecting them to do stuff for your personal good is pretty unrealistic. I hope you don't feel that way about them.
 
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