Microsoft blinks, reverts YouTube app back to web player release

If you thought you had seen the last of the Google versus Microsoft tussle over the YouTube application for Windows Phone, think again. It looks like Microsoft

Nishtha Kanal|Oct 08, 2013, 09:01:05 IST

If you thought you had seen the last of the Google versus Microsoft tussle over the YouTube application for Windows Phone, think again. It looks like Microsoft has given up on trying to work its way around Google’s rules and regulations for the application and has reverted back to the web player experience Windows Phone users had been seeing for the past three years.

The newest update for YouTube for Windows Phone puts the application into a time machine to take it back to when the application was merely a wrapper to redirect users to YouTube for mobile web. While this may not be a great solution to make the application work better, at least the service is now accessible to Windows Phone users.

Back to square one

Microsoft seems to be temporarily letting go of fighting the uphill battle with Google who had blocked access from the app developed by the former company for Windows Phones. Microsoft’s version of the application had brought about a lot of excitement in users since it offered a complete video watching experience.

More from News Analysis

The issue started when Microsoft upgraded Windows Phone 8’s YouTube experience, turning the wrapper that redirected users to mobile web into a full fledged application. Google, however, saw red when it realised that not only did the application block advertisements on Windows Phone, it also allowed users to download videos from it, a move completely against YouTube’s Terms of Services.

Microsoft tried to comply with some of Google’s rules in further updates but after a series of back-and-forths between the companies for a few months, the situation reached a stalemate with Google blocking the access for the application.

Microsoft has a very good reason to be unhappy over this situation. Agitated at not having a native app for a service like YouTube, Microsoft ended up developing a superior one of its own but was shortchanged by Google. The Internet giant expects Microsoft to move the app to HTML5 when neither its Android nor its iOS application works on the same principles.

While this saga may drag on for a while longer, it looks like Google has won this battle with Microsoft blinking and bowing to its diktat. Windows Phone users will have to settle for a barebones version of YouTube, but at least this way they do get to watch videos.

By Nishtha Kanal

Intrigued by all things social, Nishtha will invariably tweet about you. When not tweeting or writing about the next viral video, you will hear her proclaiming her love to Metallica, James Hetfield, Opeth, Akerfeldt and all bands that go 'growl'. She also obsesses about ACP Pradyuman and South Park and you will always find her moving around with a book. Her focus is on all the happening stuff in the tech domain, and she won't hesitate to take a shot at some of the oddball devices that make their way to our labs.