Why Google Maps Not Accessible On Windows Phone

Google Maps Not Accessible On Windows Phone; Reason Why Google Is Not To Be Blamed

Reuters

After facing uproar over its decision to block Windows Phone users from accessing Google Maps website, Google is reportedly working towards restoring Windows Phone users' access to its navigation service.

Response to reports of the alleged blockade of Google Maps, a Google spokesperson told The Next Web (TNW), "The mobile web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as Chrome and Safari. However, since Internet Explorer is not a WebKit browser, Windows Phone devices are not able to access Google Maps for the mobile web."

WebKit is a layout engine software designed to allow web browsers to render web pages.

On Sunday, Google released another statement to the website saying that the company tests the Google Maps compatibility with many web browsers to enhance user experience.

The search engine reverberated its claim by saying that IE (Internet Explorer) did not offer features like pan or zoom and failed to perform basic map functionality. Hence, the company chose to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com.

Google further said that Firefox mobile browser provides better user experience and thus Firefox users are not required to be redirected.

Google said that it is currently working to remove the 'redirect' from the IE. With recent improvements done to IE, Google maps will be restored with enhanced user experience.

The alleged Google Maps blockade was noticed on Jan 5 by Windows Phone 8-based smartphone users.

Even though Google came out with a reasonable excuse to the blockade, several technology websites have accused it of unfair practice against competitor Microsoft as many Windows phone users reportedly said that the service was working fine few days earlier turned out in-accessible for no apparent reason since Saturday.

Windows phone users are advised that the Google Maps site will be made accessible within a few days.

Microsoft is not new to these kinds of anti-competition practices. The Redmond-based company in 2001 was accused of making MSN.Com (Microsoft Messenger) incompatible with browsers other than IE so that  users will be forced to use Internet Explorer and abandon other web browsers, reported CNET.

(with inputs from The Next Web)