Google Extends Cut Off for Microsoft Users’ Access to Google Sync, Support Until July 2013

Google announced at the last minute that it will extend support to Microsoft users’ access to Google Sync (built on Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync protocol) until July 31, 2o13.

What’s Exchange ActiveSync? As a refresher it’s an XML-based protocol, developed by Microsoft, that allows the synchronization of email, calendar, contacts, and other data between servers and mobile devices. And at this point, it’s the only way to get native Gmail push notifications on your iPhone.

Previously in December of 2012 Google dropped the bomb that it would no longer support Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) for syncing e-mail, contacts and calendar for non-paying Google customers beginning on January 30, 2013. But now in a sudden change of heart Google had this to say in a statement:

“As announced last year, our plan is to end support for new device connections using Google Sync starting January 30, 2013. With the launch of CardDAV, it’s now possible to build a seamless sync experience using open protocols (IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV) for Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts. We’ll start rolling out this change as planned across all platforms but will continue to support Google Sync for Windows Phone until July 31, 2013.”

It appears that the Windows team no longer plans to add CardDAV or CalDAV support for users who are trying to connect to a Google account via Mail/Calendar/People after January 30, based on a blog statement released today. Here is a Microsoft’s guide for users who wish to sync their Google accounts with Windows 8 and Windows RT.

Source