Google’s YouTube has demanded that the app be removed by 22 May but we suspect that this may all end up in a war of words first.
It also stated that the app was circumventing its rights as it allowed users to download content and play back videos on mobile devices even if such actions are marked as restricted by content creators.
Microsoft has responded that it would be happy to include advertising but it can’t display something it does not have access to - Google’s advertising engine application programming interface (API) and will gladly fix any issues. It had to develop the app without any input from Google or YouTube. Rumour has it that YouTube refused to devote any resources to supporting Windows Phone.
At Google I/O conference on Wednesday, CEO Larry Page said certain players in the industry are restricting innovation. More pointedly, Page told an audience member that "We struggle with people like Microsoft."
Earlier Microsoft took aim at Google's Android OS with an ad campaign ‘Scroogled’ where Microsoft claimed Google could not be trusted and users personal information is shared with developers each time an app is downloaded.
So if you use Windows Phone it may pay to get in quick for this clean YouTube feed. Windows Phone users are stating that it is the best YouTube experience of any mobile OS.
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Opinion
This ‘barney’ is more political than we are led to believe - there is something way more nefarious here. In essence it is yet another ‘shot over the bow’ in a war to break Google’s internet advertising stranglehold and in the interests of free competition that may be a good thing. Google clearly would not wish to see its advertising model placed under the intense scrutiny of any court in any land.
I trust Google (to make money) about as much as I trust Microsoft (to have given up its world domination aspirations). If Google were serious they just needed to provide a Windows Phone app.