Microsoft responds to Google's EAS move, sidesteps issue
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 18th Dec 2012 00:03 UTC
Microsoft Microsoft has just responded to Google's move regarding Exchange ActiveSync. Sadly, instead of addressing the very real problems consumers are about to face, Microsoft starts talking about switching to Outlook.com.
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segedunum
Member since:
2005-07-06

The issue is that existing configurations, for say, new devices, pre-configure GMail to use EAS because it is a simpler solution to roll out, and because it integrates nicely into the enterprise.

It doesn't 'integrate nicely into the enterprise'. It's required for use by Exchange because it's impossible to get what people want out of Exchange any other way. That's it.

So while no current users are affected, people now have to scramble to alter the way they configure Gmail accounts. For example, on Windows Phone 7, Gmail accounts are auto set up to use Google Sync with EAS.

No one gives a shit about what happens on a Windows Phone quite frankly. I'm also afraid that the market share isn't there to push enough users into getting Outlook.com addresses.

Microsoft, and you, have this false sense of security that they are in a position of strength but in reality the only position of strength Microsoft have - the enterprise, i.e. Exchange lock-in - is in reality being surrounded by a far larger userbase.

Meaning after the cut off date, any WP device that comes with Gmail must be reconfigured or it will not work out of the box. That's a breaking experience.

No one cares. Microsoft knows what they can do if they want to fix it. Google could write something for Windows Phone I suppose but I doubt it's worth even a couple of hours of their time given the number of users it affects.

For now. That's the really worrying part to business I'd imagine. It must be absolutely horrifying that Google even flirts with the idea of ditching EAS.

They will, once Exchange is effectively dead. Until then there are no such worries.

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