Google has shown mercy on Microsoft and Windows Phone users once again, extending its Google Sync reprieve. The move allows anyone with a Windows Phone device to set-up new connections for Google Calendar and Contacts using Google Sync until December 31—a key concession, because Microsoft only recently began rolling the open standard technology plans on using post-Sync to Windows Phones.
Beginning in 2014, only paid Google Apps accounts for enterprises and institutions will continue to have Sync support. All users with free Google accounts, meanwhile, will have to use the open CalDAV and CardDAV standards to set-up access to Google Calendar and Contacts on a Windows Phone.
The CalDav and CardDAV protocols allow client devices like phone to sync calendar and contacts data from Google's servers, similar to Google Sync.
Windows Phone 8 update coming soon
Google's deadline extension allows Microsoft more time to finishing rolling out the latest Windows Phone 8 update, dubbed general distribution release 2 (GDR2), with the required open CalDAV and CardDAV support. The six month delay of Sync's death lessens the odds of Windows Phones users being stranded sans both Sync and the GDR2 update.
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