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Microsoft's Windows Phone to add support for Google sync protocols

Windows Phone users are getting built-in support for Google's CalDAV and CardDAV syncing protocols some time before July 31.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Nothing like waiting until the eleventh hour. But on January 30, Google announced it will extend the deadline as to when it would cut off Microsoft users' access to Google Sync (built on Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol).

Google announced in mid-December 2012 plans to drop Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) support for syncing e-mail, contacts and calendar for non-paying Google customers starting January 30, 2013. But on January 30, as first reported by The Verge, Google has decided to continue to support Google Sync for Windows Phone until July 31, 2013.

Microsoft confirmed the news via a January 30 blog post on the Windows Phone blog:

"We’re happy to share today that Google will extend their support for new Windows Phone connections via Google Sync until July 31, 2013.

"At the same time, the Windows Phone team is building support into our software for the new sync protocols Google is using for calendar and contacts—CalDAV and CardDAV. These new protocols, combined with our existing support for the IMAP protocol for email, will enable Windows Phone users to continue to connect to Google services after July 31, 2013."

Google issued a statement today, as well. From a Google spokesperson:

“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."

Though Microsoft isn't sharing details right now about how it will get the update with CardDAV and CalDAV support into Windows Phone users' hands, it seems safe to assume there will be an update for Windows Phone coming before July 31. Based on the tags at the bottom of Microsoft's post, it seems both Windows 7.x users and Windows Phone 8 users will get this update.

Update: It looks like the Windows team is not going to be adding 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 post today. Here's Microsoft's guidance as to how these users can sync their Google accounts with Windows 8 and Windows RT.

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