Microsoft and Google have apparently put their differences aside and are now building a compliant YouTube app together for Windows Phone. The app will serve ads and will be out likely next month.
“Microsoft and YouTube are working together to update the new YouTube for Windows Phone app to enable compliance with YouTube’s API terms of service, including enabling ads, in the coming weeks,” the two companies said in a joint statement to TNW. “Microsoft will replace the existing YouTube app in Windows Phone Store with the previous version during this time.”
The apparent agreement and decision to work together follows a few episodes of back and forth between the two companies.
On May 7, Microsoft rolled out a new YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 that the company developed itself. It included extra features such as being able to download videos from the site, and no ads.
On May 15, Google sent Microsoft a cease-and-desist letter regarding its YouTube app, pointing out the company had violated some of YouTube’s terms of service. Google requested that Microsoft either block or pull the YouTube app from the Windows Phone Store by May 22.
It appears that Google has finally agreed to play ball, though it’s not clear what Microsoft had to offer to pull off a deal. Ultimately, it appears that every Windows Phone user who users YouTube will benefit.