Windows

Mobile Google Maps website now available to Windows Phone 8 users

posted by Michael H.

Jan 09, 2013, 3:21 PM

Mobile Google Maps website now available to Windows Phone 8 users

There has been quite a bit of hooplah around this story over the past week, and it looks like it has finally found a resolution. First, it was noticed that Windows Phone 8 devices could not access the mobile website for Google Maps, which is something Windows Phone had never been able to do. There was a backlash, and Google responded to the claims. And now, Google Maps is finally available to Windows Phone 8 users.

The original reports were a bit split, with some claiming that Google was blocking the site from WP users. The claim was never confirmed, and only had relatively flimsy support (the desktop version of Google Maps UK worked on WP8 devices). Google's excuse didn't fully remove suspicion though, because the reasoning was that IE 9 on Windows Phone 7/7.5 wasn't compatible because of limited HTML5 support, even though IE 10 on WP8 had been out for two months.

Either way, as promised, Google has re-evaluated the redirect and removed it, so now the mobile website for Google Maps is finally available to Windows Phone 8 users. It still doesn't work for WP7 users though.

source: The Verge

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12 Comments

11. jdep1

Posts: 26; Member since: Nov 06, 2012

I personally don't use Google apps just because google collects too much info from the user & well Bing & Nokia maps work better than google maps. One app windows needs from google is YouTube.

posted on Jan 10, 2013, 12:07 AM 0

12. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

true, you can always block what they collect.

posted on Jan 10, 2013, 10:07 AM 0

10. networkdood

Why even bother using IE...lol. Firefox and Chrome are much better, and more secure/better blocking of 3rd party intrusive crappola.

posted on Jan 09, 2013, 8:59 PM 0

9. networkdood

"UPDATE: Has Google blocked Windows Phone users from its maps.google.com site? While it might appear that way, it now seems that Internet Explorer never did support the site."

posted on Jan 09, 2013, 8:58 PM 1

7. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

"First, it was noticed that Windows Phone 8 devices could not access the mobile website for Google Maps................which is something Windows Phone had never been able to do." "Google's excuse didn't fully remove suspicion though, because the reasoning was that............ IE 9 on Windows Phone 7/7.5 wasn't compatible because of limited HTML5 support, even though.......................IE 10 on WP8 had been out for two months. " ".......................It still doesn't work for WP7 users though...................." Enough said. Never fully compatible, IE 10 just came out, still not available for WP 7 users. All this hoopla....why not just use Nokia Maps, which many claim is better anyway?

posted on Jan 09, 2013, 8:51 PM 0

6. phil2n

Posts: 519; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

but i think Nokia doesn't need this map

posted on Jan 09, 2013, 7:02 PM 1

8. jroc74

And I agree. I think WP users already have a decent native maps app, unless Nokia Maps isnt available for non Nokia phones? Seems like there are some that actually like some Google services, the others are just hating for the sake of hating that were upset.