Google extends Windows Phone calendar and contacts syncing until December 31st

Google has granted new Windows Phone users another extension to access its Sync service until December 31st. The company had originally planned to drop support for new connections using the Exchange ActiveSync protocol on January 30th, but it extended the cut off date until July 31st to allow Microsoft to build CardDAV and CalDAV support into Windows Phone 8. “We’ve reached an agreement with Google to extend support for new Windows Phone connections to the Google Sync service through December 31, 2013," says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge.

Microsoft has enabled CalDAV and CardDAV support in its latest Windows Phone 8 update that started rolling out to devices recently, but not all handsets have the update yet. Another five months of Google Sync support will allow Microsoft to ensure the majority of handsets are capable of supporting the protocols required to sync Google calendar and contacts.

An ongoing ecosystems war between two giants

The extension ends part of an ongoing ecosystems war between Google and Microsoft. Google had originally left Microsoft scrambling for a solution when it provided the company just 45 days to implement the necessary CalDAV and CardDAV support in Windows Phone 8. Microsoft and Google also settled a similar dispute over an unofficial YouTube Windows Phone app that Microsoft created. Google demanded that Microsoft remove its application, and the company complied. The pair are now working together on a new YouTube Windows Phone app.