Google extends Sync support for Windows Phone till December 31

Google has granted another extension to Microsoft for its Sync service. Now, all new Windows Phone users will be able to access the service until December 31. The company was earlier planning to drop support for new connections which were using the Exchange ActiveSync protocol on January 30, but then extended the cut off date till July 31.

This basically means that all Windows Phone users who don’t have paid Google Apps accounts can still set up new synchronisation accounts till the end of this year. Users who have paid for their Google Apps accounts will still have the ability to create new Google Sync accounts. Previously made Google Sync accounts will also continue to run, even though the search giant eventually plans to stop supporting ActiveSync in Google Sync.

The new extension has been made to give Microsoft some breathing space to build CardDAV and CalDAV support into the Windows Phone 8. In a statement released to the Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson said, “We’ve reached an agreement with Google to extend support for new Windows Phone connections to the Google Sync service through December 31, 2013."

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Windows Phone 8 users can now use Google’s Sync service till December 31

Microsoft has enabled CalDAV and CardDAV support in its latest Windows Phone 8 update, which is being rolled out now, according to a blogpost by a Microsoft technician.  The majority of handsets, however, have not yet received the update. The five month extension will help Microsoft ensure that the greater number of its devices currently out in the market will be able to support the protocols needed to sync Google calendar and contacts.

The extension also puts an end to an ongoing ecosystem war between Google and Microsoft. The search giant had initially given Microsoft only 45 days to implement the necessary CalDAV and CardDAV support in Windows Phone 8. Another issue that was resolved between the companies recently was the spat over an unofficial YouTube Windows Phone app that Microsoft created. In the dispute, Google reportedly demanded that Microsoft remove the application, which the company agreed to do. The companies have now come together to work on a new official YouTube Windows Phone app.