Google removes Maps redirect for Windows Phone
The company removes a blockage that prevented Windows Phone users from accessing Google Maps on the mobile version of Internet Explorer. The redirect had caused a stir last week.
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As it said it would, Google has removed a redirect that prevented Windows Phone users from accessing Google Maps via the mobile version of Internet Explorer and that instead sent them to Google.com.
The redirect generated headlines last week, with various news outlets suggesting that it was not about poor functionality on the part of mobile IE (as Google maintained) but was more about competitive behavior on the part of Google that ironically was beginning to resemble past behavior by Microsoft.
Google, of course, just dodged an antitrust bullet from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and it continues to face an investigation by the European Union.
Google answered the recent Maps headlines with a statement issued Saturday that said in part, "In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches." The company said it was working to remove the redirect.
According to various news reports, the Web-based Maps service on Windows Phone is now working just fine.