In our face: Softcard ending support for Windows Phone as Google acquires tech

You accuse me of working for Google!?!!?!  How vile.  HOW ABOUT YOU LEARN TO READ THE G-D FAQ!  I quoted it word for word.  Not rumor or speculation.  Straight from the horse's mouth. https://www.gosoftcard.com/faq.html    

How about this, instead of arguing with each other, you go to this link: https://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/7142153-softcard-apple-pay-style-microsoft-wallet-nfc-paym and then vote for this if and when you sign in to your uservoice account. Let's get MS to do something for the end user for a change, an app that will benefit the user.

It's articles like this that get members worked into a frenzy. If Google simply bought the technology from SoftCard, and SoftCard itself is the one ending support for Windows Phone, then why did Daniel write the article this way? It's like he twisted the information up to give members here exactly what they wanted, a reason to hate Google even more. 

I, nor anyone else in this forum need any other reason to hate Google.

@MarkusDindu , I think you are confused.  Google "bought the technology" in the same way that MS bought Nokia's phone/device technology.  It sounds like you interpretted it as buying a license to use the technology, but no, Google owns it entirely and SoftCard is no longer going to have this type of product.  So it's Google that is killing the Windows Phone support.

Windows Central is not a bullshit site that rallies people up for no reason or just for views.. And Daniel is a serious author and a good professional. Not a trouble maker. The fact that they announced this 2 DAYS after Google bought them is no coincidence.

Um, for your information, that already exists in Windows Phone. Just like on Android, Microsoft Wallet's integrated NFC payment function was disabled through custom firmware for US based carriers' handsets.   The option exists on my Lumia 810 running WP8.1 (thanks to the developer preview), but doesn't work since the function itself is permanantly disabled through firmware, no matter whether it's enabled via software or not.

It may exist, but MS doesn't even push for its use. Just to store rewards cards, or your payment method to pay for apps not to make purchases at a store.... I've tried. They need to push it to the stores like apple did. Make use of the app.

@Wonder1070, The Wallet app can be used for payments in stores outside the US.  In the US, it's the carriers that had it disabled because they wanted to force their customers to use SoftCard (which was owned by the Cell companies and is now owned by Google.)

@Wonder1070 FYI, the technology used in most stores is compatible with other NFC pay systems as well, as far as my knowledge is concerned. What apple did was increase adoption. Most places wouldn't adopt NFC pay due to lacking support in most phones caused by the block on MS Wallet & Google Wallet. Google Wallet had larger device support (any NFC phone) than Softcard (select devices). The places that did adopt it were typically those who partnered and/or worked with Softcard, like McDonalds, and Subway. If one thing Apple never fails to do, it's bring a crowd; get a following. Apple Pay has caused a sudden increase in Tap-to-Pay NFC pay systems being adopted by various businesses, which should still be compatible with most NFC pay methods, Apple Pay aside. So Apple didn't push "apple pay" to the stores, as much as they created a user base large enough to adopt NFC payments in stores; Anyone with an iPhone 6 is suddenly a potential tap-to-pay user. @Cleavitt76 Google didn't buy Softcard, but rather the technology behind softcard. End result is the same though, tbh; Softcard's technology is integrated where necessary into Google Wallet (likely for backwards compatibility purposes on devices with the Google Walllet block), and the apps themselves are discontinued as Softcard no longer has rights to use the technology.

Actually the biggest blockade to NFC was carriers worldwide not offering secure sim tap and go has been in AU for years and basically everywhere. and the old card is faster and quicker than "any" phone solution. give it 10years and the mess of competing solutions will be seen for what it is and there will be a single standard.  

I don't personally care to use my smartphone as a wallet

3 votes!!

Learn to read you jerk.

And here is someone that doesn't just swallow every thing that is written here as the gospel truth. Someone that actually reads, pauses, does some research and find outs the truth is not as inflammatory as Daniel has positioned it to be. A little research will let the people here know that Softcard is eventually terminating services for ALL platforms. This is actually not uncommon when a purchasing company already has a similar product to the one they just acquired.  However, I am aware that the truth is boring. So, let's sensationalize the story. Get the people here riled up. And we call iphone users "sheep". ironic.  Thankfully, some of us actually can think for ourselves.  And Daniel, a better opinion piece would be why, if Softcard was available for sale, did Microsoft not acquire them? Google has Wallet. Apple has ApplePay. Microsoft has nothing. Read that again and tell me which company needed to buy Softcard the most. Do not close your eyes to opportunities and then cry when your rival takes advantage of them. Makes no sense. 

As I said above, the Wallet app actual has this function, but it's been disabled by US carriers through firmware.

Then we need MS to convince the carriers to enable it. MS should have never given the carriers that much power to disable it to begin with.

Just like with updates, they didn't really have a choice. MS has to play hardball with carriers, especiallly within the US. And carriers with any device other than iPhones demand update testing and carrier approval in advance, as well as have customized firmware dictating device features for carrier variant devices. Honestly, factory unlocked ("unbranded") Windows Phones for GSM (and it's successors) based networks are the way to go, if only they were not so dang expensive (as the LTE networks used in the US vary from numerous other places, making the unlocked versions compatible with the US carriers considerably more than their global counterparts)

It's worse I have a 1520.3 & my wife has an att 1520 rm-938 and rm-940 we both have secure SIM from att, both have the Isis/softcard app hers runs and mine doesn't. Bonus as long as the US SIM is in my phone wallet sees my Credit cards but won't function. Remove the secure SIM and now wallet won't work because the secure element is missing.

Before you accuse someone of being "untruthful" (i.e. a liar) or infer that most of us are too stupid to think for ourselves, you might want to know what you are talking about first. MS does have a Wallet app just like Google.  Both Google and MS had the same issue with their Wallet apps.  The issue is that the US cell carriers would not provide the required technology to allow either Wallet app to work.  The carriers blocked support for both Wallet apps because they didn't want competition with their own smart phone payment system known as ... wait for it ... SOFTCARD! From Wiki... "Softcard is a joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the mobile payment space, announced on November 16, 2010. The system is based on near-field communication (NFC) and allows users to pay by tapping their mobile device on a payment terminal. On February 23, 2015, it was announced that Google Inc. would acquire Softcard's intellectual property and integrate it into its competing Google Wallet service, which the three carriers will now officially support as part of the deal." So it's exactly as Daniel described.  Google is buying the technology from the cell phone carriers (which were blocking both Google and MS Wallet payments), then they are killing support for Windows Phone, and finally they are merging softcard into their own Android wallet app.  The cell carriers are probably getting some kind of kick back on the credit card transaction fees which is why they were being so aggressive with blocking Softcard's competition in the first place. Apple has only been successful with payments because they bypassed the carriers and created thier own processing system that banks/stores can integrate with directly.  However, that only works here in the US because Apple has such large market share.  MS and Google didn't have the market share to pull that off. Oh, and to answer your question, Microsoft didn't use this tactic because it is very obviously anti-competitive (starting with the carriers and now with Google) and MS can't do those kind of things because they are still viewed as a monopoly even in areas of business where they are the underdog.  Someday the public perception will catch up a decade or two and Google won't be able to continue using these tactics, but right now most people still think of MS as the big bully and Google as the tiny newcomer underdog.

Thanks for the info.  Very interesting.

LOL. Almost a page of rant and you missed some key elements.  Softcard is ending support for ALL platforms, Android included. So, the whole point of this article is based off sensationalism. Why is this point so hard for some here to understand.  You are predicting that Softcard's payment system is going to be integrated into Google Wallet. So? If Microsoft didn't want that to happen they could have stopped it by Buying the technology themselves. Yes, believe it or not, Microsoft could have bought it themselves. I am sick and tired of all the excuses. Nobody screamed monopoly when Microsoft bought Skype, I very much doubt anyone would yell that if it acquired a payment system. Try another excuse. Not blaming Microsoft here. They made a business decision here. Only time will tell if it is the right one. Google also made a business decision. But my point is very simple; if this article was worded correctly, as in; Softcard is to end support for all currently supported platforms, it will not incite the faithfuls enough.  You may like being played like that. I don't. Sorry. Oh, and Google didn't have the marketshare that Apple has? Are you serious? You must spend way too much time here on WindowsCentral.

yes, msft missed big here. more important than acquiring n-trig unless they are preparing to deep-six winphone, which i could believe. satya never liked the nokia acquisition

You honestly think google wallet will arrive on Windows phone???? Softcard will continue to exist on android in the name of Google wallet, but on Windows phone? It's gone forever

They eventually will. I have a friend impressed that my 8X is holding up better than his Android phone and he says that he isn't pleased with Google lately regarding ads in his email and browser.

That's Google for you. They only care about the money they get from ads. The more they scatter around everywhere they can, the more they can make.

like

...and still Microsoft will never learn. They'll keep on releasing apps for google....smh

Yeah I would love if all of Microsoft services were cancelled for Android and other Google products.

You know what? That's what Google is die-halrdy wishing and waiting for.

Exactly. Having our services on other platforms means more people will use them, which is what Google doesn't want.

Would be better if Microsoft prevented Chrome from working in Windows desktop. Instant and sizable drop in Google's ad revenue.

I agree, but they would somehow point a finger at Microsoft for not allowing a different browser. Ya know cause that's wrong but cutting off a platform and not allowing YouTube apps isn't wrong at all. I am just waiting for people to wake up and realize that Google is becoming a monopoly and tie their hands for years like they did with Microsoft. Not that old school Microsoft wasn't wrong for doing it, Google is wrong for it currently yet no one seems to care.

That'd likely trigger another anti-trust(?) investigation.

They tried that already... Didn't work out so well

@Peter Thompson3, MS got sued for billions of dollars by both the European Union and the US DOJ (and maybe China soon) for doing far less than what you are suggesting.  They were also forbidden from promoting their own products in many ways, or from competing in some areas of the market entirely, under the terms of the anti-trust law suits. 

Read the first four paragraphs ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.

+920

I would love that too only if first Microsoft win android and iPhone users and then drop their support.
Don't worry buddy REVENGE WILL BE OURS

If they were to remove office right now from android. A lot of people would move to Gmail or Gdocs instead of switching to iPhone or Windows. Not a wise move right now. But they should definitely remove their new apps like Sway. And not make new android apps at all. What they can also do is just not update their apps anymore. People would still use them but all the cool new features would be on Windows.

A lot of the users you're talking about already used Google docs, Gmail, etc, but when Microsoft released office for android, they dropped them immediately in favor of office. So I feel if windows 10 for phone turns out good, there's a strong possibility that those users might switch to WP to get the apps they chose over the Google equivalent

Why switch to WP if they actually have better Microsoft experience than users of Microsofts' own platform.

Windows 10 will bring WP apps from Microsoft that are better than what is on Android and iOS

Doubtful. MS isn't stupid and won't make the mistake of letting the Android and iOS apps fall behind their Windows counterparts. They may even sell some of those users an Office 365 subscription. Windows Phone (now Mobile, I guess) will NEVER matter as a business until MS can ensure release day support for popular new apps and devices. Nothing else matters--not Office, not great cameras, nothing. It doesn't matter if 9/10 of the most popular apps are in the WP store, if users know that a new IoT device's app or that new social app are not going to be there for six months after the iOS/Android release, that kills it. Google's services are now firmly in the old school category and Apple doesn't really have many offerings in this area; MS should keep focusing on making greap apps for all platforms and they may just gain some traction as an alternative to Google services on every platform.

I really would love to see tables turn, once Hololens becomes a thing. We'll have to wait and see what Magic Leap has to offer, apart from unwarranted claims against hololens. Dont exactly know how Microsoft plans to use hololens, but sure would love to see only windows phone or iphones paired to it and no support for android.

Why, I think its more coy to put Microsoft all over android and essentially steal the operating system from Google. They're already working with Cyanogen and may possible be bundling all Samsung phones with their services and apps.

Yeah I know. Good plan.

Google can't see WP grow. And they, with a functioning brain, won't ever take a chance to help them grow, either. They'll try everything they can to stop it's growth. Even if it's a mere removal of an app from the store.
I know how it feels from a WP fan perspective. But, it's time to get real.
Do you really think killing Microsoft apps from google play store or apple's app store will do any good? It's a simple no. Companies are all for business. Microsoft is a company, and business is where the world is. Neglecting those users makes no sense. And Microsoft won't(can't) do that. If Microsoft were to revenge Google for its bad treatment to WP users, it'll only cause harm to itself -Google knows that and that's how it takes advantage of it.

Exactly. It's so sad that fans can't seem to understand that Windows Phone's puny market share is the ultimate reason why all of this is happening.

Fans do understand that Microsoft has a "puny" market share. The complaint isn't so much that apps aren't provided for Windows phone so much as Google's very obvious ploy of refusing to offer apps for Windows Phone and actively preventing third party apps from accessing their sevices.

Honestly that is BS. Microsoft made its own YouTube app and 3rd party devs also used YouTube public APIs to make YouTube apps and google killed the API keys for no reason. What does market share matter if Microsoft does all the work and makes the app?

Google killed the WP YouTube app because MIcrosoft didn't include Googles advertising framework. YouTubers earn their money off those advertisements. 

No, Microsoft did include Google's advertising framework (I got numerous ads from Google when i used it, more so than the mobile website counterpart.). The issue was over the fact that the Microsoft/Youtube built app used the same APIs the other YouTube apps, and Google demanded that they used the publicly available HTML5 APIs instead (which windows phone did not support HTML5 embedded video at the time; HTML5 videos opened up the source within the native video player). This was, of course, BS, as the official applications on other platforms did not, and still do not use the public HTML5 APIs.   So to force the official app for Windows Phone to use them, especially when it did not support HTML5 video to the extent necessary for the YouTube public APIs, was an attempt to cripple, if not indirectly block the application from existing (existence being a relative term in this case).

Google can't help it. Microsoft is growing from the bottom up not from the top down. It's very hard to stop a company growing in such a fashion and believe it or not it is working.

it wouldnt dent a bit google... infact microsoft will suffer if they dont release services for android and IOS. MSFT has more user base on android and IOS than worrying about WP which is 3% ( lol)

Exactly, I wish more people here realized that. 

people here blindly follow posts written by editors. I love microsoft products but phone isnt one of em. even msft is aware, with their immature OS they will never grow beyond 5% market share.  Msft has started investing in CynogenMod and Samsung's new release devices.

MSFT guy, windows phone is not immature, it is full blown OS that is better than Android or IOS, it is late in the game, it's market share is less. I have been using Android too, but apart from search and points of interest I don't see Google doing a good job. My daily driver for email, social networking, phone, texting, browsing and usability WP walks over Android

Microsoft leaving the Android and iOS ecosystems wouldn't put much of a dent, if any in eithers user market.

I don't think Microsoft is GETTING much from being over there, either.  A quick peek at the Android store shows a decent 4.0 rating from 334,568 reviews.  Downloads are about 10 million.  Polaris Office also has the 10 million downloads and a 4.2 rating.  Interestingly, Google Docs has about 10 million with 4.1 rating.  The biggest one that I've seen, so far is Docs To Go with 50 million and a 4.0 rating.   I imagine that the Office downloaders are mostly curious lookers and those who already had Office 365 or corporate Exchange.   

Me too, but it isn't smart in the long term. All of the MS services on Android now gets MS a lot of money. The strategy is to get Android users to ditch Google and use as many MS services as possible. The apps from MS are sort of like a legal trojan horse. That's why they invested in cyanogen aswell. If people start using that (which will contain alternative services and search) instead of the Google Services type Android, Google will lose a lot of money.

Now that will be a day to remember and rejoice if that happens.

No you don't. We are Windows Phone users who also use Google products. We don't want and Microsoft can't afford to treat their customers the way it appears Google is treating a subset of theirs. I would prefer to have support from Google to help me use their services when I need them. Instead, they have turned me away. I don't use this pay service, but do use others.

Greetings from China - the BIG market. I've heard of Microsoft. I've heard of Android. I think I've even heard of Softcard. But who on Earth is this Google you talk about? Didn't they used to be someone? China is a gold-certified, Google-free zone. Isn't life wonderful?

Well ... Microsoft, unlike Google, acts like a grown up these days (they even tuned down their anti Google & Apple marketing campaigns). I would be disappointed if Microsoft would leave the highroad they are currently following.

Yes, it sucks that Google is anti-Microsoft. But Google is a direct competitor to Microsoft, they have no reason to support Windows Phone in the position they are in --- until the courts have a say so in it. Microsoft really isn't pro-Google/Android either. They're developing apps for all ecosystems as its a necessity for them as a software company.

It is not support of Windows phone. It is understanding their customers are a diverse group.

Yes. The "nice guy" thing seems to be working out great. 

Would be great idea to cancel their apps but, they value their customers why they haven't. Who knows maybe they will

Yeah, having MS apps/services on potentially Billions of cell phones is a bad business decision.  /s

Giving away app/services for free, on potentially billions of cell phones, while devaluing the billions spent on another division of your company, is a GUARANTEED great business decision. /s *potentially - Office has about 10 million installs on Android.  Not sure that they're getting to billions anytime soon. 

Actually, Softcard becoming an "Android Only" payment system is just going to completely kill it off. The reason it was being sold off is because it was failing. It was failing because of a lack of adoption.  Why isn't it being adopted you ask? Apple Pay is being adopted, but grudgingly. Carriers, Banks, and Retailers all want something else, but so far Apple has been the only one with the clout to try this properly. Google is known lately for grandios ideas that go nowhere, much like Microsoft of years past. With it being another "proprietary" product, it won't be accepted.  Carriers, Banks, and Retailers want something that will be universal and can be used across all the phones that the Carriers sell. Here's the thing... If Microsoft will come up with a payment system that can be put on iOS, Android, WP, and Blackberry, and if the implementation is sound, it will be adopted, especially if the tech is offered "free of royalties and fees" by Microsoft. Suddently, WP would be the hero of the tap and pay world. Yeah, you might think that if Microsoft gives it to others it would be undermining their own system, but that's not true. At this point, it's the only way to get it on the WP, because it will have to be a "universal" system to gain the adoption that WP would need to get into this market. Microsoft releasing apps for Google is their plan. Google initially made themselves powerful with Android by getting people to use Google services on Android. Now, Microsoft is changing that by getting people to use Microsoft Services on both Android and iOS, which will weaken the app hold that Google and Apple have. It is cutting into Google's ad profits, and adding to Microsoft's. Don't feel bad for Microsoft on it. Google is too big to take down over night, but a slow path to irrelevancy is still a path to irrelevancy. Google is on it. 

The key thing here is that Apple Pay, Softcard, Google Pay/Wallet are all accepted at the same locations.  There is no "We take ApplePay, but not Softcard" campaign. The backend processing uses the same network run by the credit card companies.  ApplePay to tap-to-pay is like Retina to any other high resolution screen: just a branding that gets talked about.

"Google is known lately for grandios ideas that go nowhere" "Google is too big to take down over night, but a slow path to irrelevancy is still a path to irrelevancy. Google is on it. " Absolutely. Very well said. They can keep tinkering with their driverless cars and their glasses, but the truth is that they are flailing for a market other than selling ads.

They have to if they want their apps and services to be used as Android enjoys huge market share. If WP ever becomes big then MS can consider dropping Android and Apple support.

They release apps for Google's users... Trojan horses to turn them into Microsoft users and maybe they will switch platforms in the future.

Hopefully. 

Use your brain people, MS would piss in their own sand if they discontinued all their products on Android because honestly, most of users/customers for their services is ANDROID so they would hurt themselves more. I think they could do this if they had much bigger marketshare, atleast iOS wise. Then it would be a smart move and attract many more users to WP as many people are dependent on Office/Skype etc.

The hive mind on this site is mind blowing.  100% emotion and fantasy, 0% common sense.  Of course MS isn't going to cancel their Android or iphone apps, they need to make money off of the 95% of the mobile market that is not using WP. 

I think Microsoft should kick Google back. By removing all of its Android apps. However, they would still make apps for Cyanogen. Because Google doesn't deserve to own Android anymore.

Let's see how that works. Considering there are more people on Android using Microsoft products than there are people using those products on WP, I doubt MS will shoot themselves in the foot. Cyanogen is crap. It won't be a player much longer.

Then how would you explain Microsoft investing in Cyanogen, effectively joining its army in the fight to take Android away from Google? I encourage you to read this before responding:
http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-rumored-be-investing-google-andr...

Android actually has users.  Microsoft has to monetize them and sell them Office subscriptions. 

Question... is Google's reasoning: (a) fear of Microsoft (b) hatred of Microsoft (c) desire to mock Microsoft (d) simple business decision based on sales. I suspect it is some kind of mixture... but I always argue with myself trying to figure out what it is.

What they say (d) what they feel (b) for the Google fanboys (c) The Truth (a)

Yep, I really think you have it nailed here.

Nice one

Ok I agree with this ...

Love it AntiAB!

Thanks

A very nice summary of the situation.

Haha wow. So perfect

I think I read once that Eric Schmidt hates Microsoft ( because before Google he worked for companies that were bullied by the 90ies Microsoft ), and thats the reason why Google is acting the way it is..So I guess the answer is (b)

google made youtube and Maps for PS vita !! it's a device with less than 10Million user (WindowsPhone have more than 70M users)   so for sure it's not about numbers or userbase , it's just out of fear of Microsoft

Didn't know that... Thanks

Work with Apple to adopt Apple Pay as an app on Windows devices. It's a win-win.

That'll never happen. Plus it's not necessary. The functionality is already there in WP devices. All it'd take is a simple update to the Wallet app so that it gets configured for NFC payments...it's probably already planned to be in W10. I just hope MS will act fast and update the 8.1 app instead of waiting for the W10 launch

Microsoft is always a year behind, jsut like Blackberry.  It's why both of them are having issues. I don't even get it.  Microsoft has much to gain by offering faster, smaller updates (once every 6 months) for Windows and Windows Phone than tying Windows Phone to Desktop Windows' releases.  When you're behind as much as they are, agility is everything. FFS, it took them until late 2014 to get Slow Motion Video in thier OS, when Android devies have had it since mid-2011. They have to be more agile than this, else their OS will continue to be seen as a bad option and a bad value proposition compared to competitors.  They need to speed things up.

What I don't understand are why there are so many limitations in the OS that prevents it from being on par with its competitions feature set? Especially when the feature set is pretty universal, expected or standard. I don't know what these "limitations" are, but I would concentrate on eliminating those asap if you want any sort of developer participation.

The WP wallet app can already do NFC payments.  That was one of its main purposes.  However, it only works outside of the US because in the US we allow our cell phone carriers to block functionality that they don't like.  They did the same thing to Google's wallet app which is why Google is buying Softcard.  If you are wondering why the US cell carriers would want to block both Google's and MS's native wallet app, here is a hint: Softcard was created and owned as a joint venture by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon prior to Google buying it.  All of these companies are after a slice of the credit card transaction fees.  As part of this deal, I'm sure Google is splitting the fees with the cell carriers that previously owned Softcard and in return they are continuing to support the required technology on their end.

"Oh yeah? Well we will just make everything we have available on Android!" --Microsoft  

They're going after their users. Blame Google for being bad, not Microsoft for being good.
Btw, i was in search for an inspiration to switch my e-mail from Google to Microsoft. Well, I've found it.

Welcome aboard!

Good for you my friend. I deleted all my Google accounts, including my Gmail and YouTube, a couple years ago. It's a liberating feeling being free of a company that "uses" you, in favor of a company that welcomes and respects you as an individual.

I wouldn't want my banking info in a Google app anyway, so it doesn't matter reallly.

This is infuriating. I used Softcard on WP all the freaking time! It was our only method of NFC payment. Microsoft really needs to get it in gear. Ideally this news shouldn't mean WP users lose our one and only source of NFC payment.

Microsoft should buy Visa or Mastercard.

Google has purposefully lifted the gauntlet from it's position between it's feet an Microsofts. They've extend their arm at it's full extent reaching far behind thier backs. And with a swift and precise motion, planted said gaunlet across the face of Microsoft and al we that stand faithfully in their camp.  Ouch. and Touche' Google. Ouch and Touche' Teh lines have been ENGRAVED.  HERE's WHAT I SHARED ON THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON GOOGLES PURCHASE OF SOFTCARD I  certainly hope Google continues to support and develop for Windows, but my confidence in that particular outcome is minimal. Google wants to replace Microsoft as the default tools people use, thier unwavering push for the children in school systems around the country is evidence of this. If the children are "nurtured on Google Productivity tools and Chrome books as we were on Microsoft Office and Windows Google has a better chance of using those Google trained masses of youth who will be adults become a driving force to begin pushing enterprise toward Google tools. Google already owns mobile.
Solidifying their position in a very practical area of mobile payments which Apple has succeeded in virtually mainstreaming will further persuade people to use Google tools, within Google ecosystem. Sadly it is in Google's share hungry business interests to block Microsoft out of this arena.
Microsoft though thier Mobile market share is dwarfed by Google and Apple is the only company that offers a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services that if Microsoft's mobile fortunes were to change Google's position could be drastically affected, particularly given Microsoft's powerful 91% PC install base in homes and enterprise across the globe.
If MS is pushed out of mobile payment early on, while the foundations are being laid in the industry "infrastructure" and consumers mindset set, Windows may sadly become known as the platform among users during this critical stage, that does not support mobile payments. Touché Google.
Microsoft. Your move. Windows 10 hopefully will have the ultimate affect of becoming the ecosystem that pulls that massive PC install base into the "mobile" arena via universal apps. Though a competitor, if Win 10 leads to a large enough base that would generate advertise dollars for Google, that base may be to big to ignore.
GOOGLE Refuses to Play Nice With Windows Phone and Here's Why
https://jltechword.wordpress.com/2014/09/14/google-refuses-to-play-nice-with-windows-phone-and-heres-why/

LOL google is a joke.

Google's acting like a selfish, whiny, snot-nosed little infant.
They need a babysitter.

Google act like a b*tch.

Google is a big bitch and all the bad things to em..!!
Nice article Daniel..!! You're damn smart boy..Nice maneuvering..!!
And rofl on barrel of fuel..!!

Claim a monopoly like they did way back in the day with Internet Explorer and Windows

they arent in a state of monopoly today. even they have competition from Microsoft, amazon, apple, etc. Microsoft was the only company who enjoyed the greatest monopoly until since windows 95.

It could fall under anti competative acts. It isnt that IE was a monopoly that was the problem (it wasn't Netscape was still around and doing OK). It was that MS suposedly made back room deals bundleing windows with IE and not allowing OEMs to include Netscape and other such software. This seems to fit pretty well with that. Google has already been brought into court in Europe for some of this, maybe the US will try it next?

Google has 80% of world smartphone shipments with their OS on it. They're at Microsoft-in-the-90s level of software hegemony. This is an anticompetitive move in an attempt to weaken a rival platform. Google's behavior is pretty fucking shitty in this regard

Ok....i just dont understand why people buy Android phones. They have shitty quality (my experience), the OS is a cluster organizational nightmare, and the supporting company is a bunch of douche-bags.

I like my 920 but are you saying that wp settings are organized?

I'm not sure how things are internationally, but in the US you have to beg to buy a Windows Phone.  As soon as you walk into a carrier store, you are bombarded with sales people pushing Android and iOS.  It's rediculous. I rember that my father wanted to buy a phone, and at the time I recommened an HTC WP.  Next time I saw him he had a low end piece of garbage Samsug Android because the girl at the store told him that "Windows mobile is horrible, go with this instead" It's an uphill battle that I don't think we can win without carrier support.

At one point (many a year ago) I might have agreed with you. I was a huge WP fan. However, the ills of WP have nothing to do with Google/Android. Those ills rest entirety on the shoulders of Microsoft. MS dropped the ball in the device wars and allowed competition to run all over it.

They like using full featured versions of apps like Instagram, snapchat, YouTube, banks etc without having to wade through third parties? And can't afford an iPhone?

Seems like there has to be some anti-competitive law breaking with all of the stifling competition that google does

Exactly. But they get away with it because of lobbying.

Lobbying? You're being nice. No, your government is bought and paid for, don't paint it as anything less than corruption, flat out, any entity with that much money is going to buy itself protection.

Yea your right. I was trying to be somewhat generous lol.

MS had more money than Google...

What do you mean had, they still do. 

Hopefully the EU will come through. Google are w*nkers

There is nothing anti-competitive about what Google is doing. They aren't paying people to not use Windows Phone, they aren't strong-arming OEMs into not installing Windows Phone. There is no law that says you have to support your competitors. If there were you'd see office on Linux

Exactly but the MS fanboys will never see that.

Shocker.... Google just gets worse by the day

Hell yah..!

*sigh* Google... so much for "do no evil" again!

Don't be evil.   The whatever-it-is (slogan?) is Don't be evil.

I think its 'Do Know Evil'

I.e. "Do know Google"

Wow. That's a bit ridiculous for them to do that.

I love you google....love thy enemy and all that shit..

Lol!

Google don't forget that Karma is watching. And Karma is a *****.

Damn right
Can't wait for it

Yeah don't microsoft know that shit by now. But yeah android remaining a competitive/dominant OS is not set in stone

Yeah! What if Google had BAD karma and collapsed altogether? That will be a good one to see on the news!

Boo on Google.

Seconded, until Hangouts stops. Then I'll third, fourth and fifth it

Heyyy Sabri! Long time since I saw you on WC posts! Hows your job at MSFT?

Yup not surprising at all...

Another reason why I hate Google

Agreed.

Stupid, do what MSFT does, your services on all devices, not just your devices

Or maybe Microsoft should stop trying to be the better company (as in the phrase "be the better man"), and stop pushing their services to Android products and only make their stuff for iPhone and Windows. Through all of this, Apple has never been a flat out asshole to Microsoft; only Google has acted this way.

MS's strategy has nothing to do with "being a better company" and has everything to do with collecting the biggest user group they can. They are cadting wide nets in hopes of catching as many users as possible. Thankfully, that strategy works out for most of us.

Exactly

Apple is a little bit over the neutral side to Microsoft and is being nice to us a lot more than Google is. Google is a spoilt child and doesn't want to play along.

I'm not really surprised either, but i also think it's a bit petty. For an organisation that's all about collecting information they're awfully quick to shut out a large group of people. Google needs to grow up . We don't see microsoft limiting the services that we can connect to

True but because of the low market share of WP Microsoft needs to have their services on other platforms.

Plus, having their services on other platforms is bad for the makers of those platforms.

Maybe they *should* cut you guys out. Amazon does the same thing so it's not unprecedented to only support your own platforms with your own products. Apple does it as well (granted they aren't assholes about it).

Terrible, but what else is new. Guess we need 10% market share before Google puts any services on WP.

That's an arbitrary number. If we get 10% Google will then say we need 20% and then on and on. There is no logic to that business model.

Well IOS is around 15% market share and they have all of Google's apps

Well globally, in the US, Google's main market and primary focus for all services, iOS is doing better

Apple has mostly wealthy customers, Windows Phone has mostly not wealthy customers. That makes iOS users more valuable to target ads to. 

Bingo.  Releasing 100 versions of a $50 phone is not going to drive developers to your platform. 

windows 8 has a pretty big marketshare compared to anything that is not XP or 7. google still ignores it.

Which you'll never never...specially since WP marketshare has now globally dropped to bellow 3% (2.7%). There's an article on Android Central about that. Of course, it wasn't published here for obvious reasons...   There's only one way Google will ever support WP: when WP as a platform, is based only on high end devices where people pay for apps. Like iOS. Because there Google can make money. Otherwise, they just won't bother.

Google does not sell applications and Google supports low-end android devices. This is a silly analysis. This is more about keeping a platform from becoming competitive. Google's service are sold independently and they're foolish if they don't support Windows 10.

You missed the point entirely didn't you? People who pay for high end and pay for apps are also the people that have consumer power. You know what Google is? A marketing company. It sells ads. You know in whom are advertisers more interested? In the people that actually have money, money which can be use to purchase the products they advertise. Advertisers don't give a sh*t about people who buy cheap phones or poor people. Therefore, WP is not an appealing platform for Google, given how WP is composed majorly of low end phones.

But how does that apply to this case specifically?  Softcard was not an app you had to pay for.  It was never going to earn Google money either way. Google bought out a service and then decided to make it completely exclusive to their platform.  This is not about WP marketshare or another chance to talk about just how bad everything is. What really sucks is that Google bought out a service that had been universal.  Google has a history of aquiring companies and then either canceling their product or integrating it into their own products exclusively. So for MS, they are left with having to either start their own service, or maybe partner with Apple. Even if WP grew in marketshare to the point of Apple, Google would not release this app on the platform.  

Learn to read, Google didn't buy a service, it didn't buy SoftCard, it bought SoftCards technology. You don't understand because of the way Daniel wrote the article, he purposefully wants you to believe that Google is fucking Windows Phone users over because it serves his agenda. More furious clicks on his article. 

Your right, I was pretty stupid not to read properly. Google simply bought the IP.  Now why exactly did Google do that?  They already have a payment service. I dont think they singled out WP, Google just bought the IP and clearly there would be no need for apps on other platforms.  Google Wallet is already an app for iOS, so maybe they plan to release a WP app pretty soon. If Softcard saw enough value in supporting a WP app, surely Google will see it too.  I'm just not confident when Google has yet to do anything app wise for WP. It just seems weird that there is no value in pushing ads to WP users      

Ironic that your typo ends up with you using the word "bellow."

LOL Yeah I noticed that but it wouldn't let me fix it. I guess WordFlow was reading what I was typing and played a little saboteur. ;P 

The drop in market share is misleading as it actually grew but the smartphone market grew exponentially faster and as such, windows phone dropped in overall market share. So it grew and shrunk at the same time.

Yea yea end result Ms presence shrank. Ms own market share compared to last period may have grown but the total has gone down.

In the end, it's marketshare that counts. Not sold devices. Marketshare brings developers in. And WP marketshare has been declining since September 2013. Even if more phones are sold, you have double or triple of ten times the growth in Android and iOS. And that means, there are more people in those platforms to develop to. Units sold is a number that concerns only OEMs. Marketshare is a concern of the companies that provide the services and platforms. Microsoft can sell 100 million WP devices. As long as Android and iOS sells 1 billion , WP will still not matter for developers.

This is when Microsoft builds their own app. HardCard.

OneCard

MicroPay

CardSoft

CardOn

"OneHardSoftPayCard for Microsoft Windows devices running Windows 10 or Windows 10 for mobile and tablet version".

That was old Microsoft. Current Microsoft would make it available for Android an iOS first and then a poor version for Windows and Windows Phones much later

OnePay!!! Cards are sooooooooo 20th century :D

HardPay

HardOn?

HardCard for mobile

And then the problem becomes support from banks and retailers if Microsoft do this.

But all these businesses / companies, isn't Microsoft the largest suppliers & supporters of the technology & devices they use.

if it uses NFC it should work anywhere google wallet/apple pay works.

It still has to have support from banks and Credit card companies. You cant just make a payment app and expect an institution to not block it. 

CardSense:)

OMG Micropay or CardSense will work

PaySense

"MoneySuck"....as in just going to Carls Jr. and tapping your MoneySuck

Card Sense!

*sniff* I didn't even get to try it....

No surprise here...
Same thing is happening for Pointer Events, a web API supported by Microsoft, Mozilla, and others except Apple and Google. And guess what the reason they give for that is: Apple is a strong force in mobile browsing and isn't likely to support Pointer Events, so we keep working on the current API. Lame.

Web developers are up in arms about both Google and Apple on this one.  I expect at least google to cave.

Well it took Microsoft how long to make a standards compliant web browser after attaining a monopoly and telling everyone to do it their way or fuck off? Google's in a remarkable position, and they don't have to give a damn anymore about public perception. They're too ubiquitous and give too much shit away for people to really turn against the company collecting data about them constantly and selling it to advertisers.

What's pointer events?

Something about reducing input lag I think.

Pointer Events are for handling touch and mouse interactions in a more developer friendly way for websites. From http://www.w3.org/TR/pointerevents/: " Today, most content is used with and/or designed for mouse input. Those that handle input in a custom manner typically code to Mouse Events. Newer computing devices today, however, incorporate other forms of input, including touchscreens, pen input, etc. Event types have been proposed for handling each of these forms of input individually. However, that approach often incurs unnecessary duplication of logic and event handling overhead when adding support for a new input type. This often creates a compatibility problem when content is written with only one device type in mind. Additionally, for compatibility with existing mouse-based content, most user agents fire Mouse Events for all input types. This makes it ambiguous whether a Mouse Event represents an actual mouse device or is being produced from another input type for compatibility, which makes it hard to code to both device types simultaneously. To reduce the cost of coding to multiple input types and also to help with the above described ambiguity with Mouse Events, this specifications defines a more abstract form of input, called a pointer. A pointer can be any point of contact on the screen made by a mouse cursor, pen, touch (including multi-touch), or other pointing input device. This model makes it easier to write sites and applications that work well no matter what hardware the user has. For scenarios when device-specific handling is desired, this specification also defines properties for inspecting the device type which produced the event. The primary goal is to provide a single set of events and interfaces that allow for easier authoring for cross-device pointer input while still allowing for device-specific handling only when necessary for an augmented experience."

Thanks captain

But what about Waze?

Dying on the vine, by way of update-free "compatibility." Presumably a platform where they want as much user data as possible, while not costing them anything by putting a dev team on it. Surprised they didn't do the same thing with softcard to phish payment info... Maybe the tech is too secure for them to reverse-engineer even after buying it.

It wasn't really updated. The news was false. Google is still Google.

That's not the point. The point is why Google doesn't remove the app.

On the other hand MS gives better Outlook, Office and such to Android than us I mean, ok they cant live without giving it to them, but at least make the apps on ur own ecosystem the same or better

You haven't seen the Office apps coming to Windows 10 then?

The key word there is coming. They are already released for the other OSes.

U have, a,d they look great so far, but still not released to the general public outside of the Insider program, while the other platforms are enjoying them already. We will have to wait for the OS to be released, then be able to use them. So Martiox is still right.

Not only that, but with the new 'leasing' programs that the carriers have been pushing, running Window Phone for Developer edition OSes actually creates a dilemma in that it CAN void your warranty. When you return the phone in order to upgrade, you have to power it on, which would show you running a newer version of the OS, and therefore 'void' your upgrade.  You'd be on the hook for the remaining balance of the phone. That fact alone means that: A. Edge and Next users will be hesitant to run Preview for Developers on their phones B. Less adoption of Windows 10 for Phones (?) until it's officially released by carriers, which will reduce the number of apps developed for it. Honestly, the whole Windows 10 for Phones thing seems eerily familiar of BB10.  Too little, too late. 

To be fair, MS does make a ton of money off Android, which probably chaps Google's ass worse than anything.

Good - then Google shouldn't have stolen others' IP 

This has been one of my biggest frustrations with WP. I'll still take it over iOS and Android, but come on

Preach! But I also back Windows Phone in the name of market competition !

That's sadly true ):

I agree with you

Well all indications seem to indicate that 8.1 is a less versatile and powerful platform for application developers than Android. Apps tend to lack features relative to android and iOS counterparts and I can't help but suspect that Windows Phone is significantly less mature than Android, though hopefully Windows 10 fixes that? I'd love to be corrected here.

The best indications are the ones that indicate, I like those. 

Part of that problem is that Office is baked into the OS, so they need to go the carrier-approval route in order to update office, and we all know how well that goes. The W10 office is a separate app, so it can be updated thru the store. So, in a way, it makes sense to just wait for W10 instead of pushing out an update and hoping most/all of the carriers approve it

Microsoft should take revenge and also remove their support to google!!!!!

Errr.... Where's EU anti trust department?

thank god MS already removed google chat support in outlook.com.

Oh yeah......

Well that was about Google ending support for XMPP in favor of the proprietary Hangouts protocol. Way to support open standards google

Except that was because the Chat API that Google had was no longer supported and being taken down, so MS HAD to remove Google Chat support because Google was not providing a mechanism for Outlook to leverage it

This doesn't affect the EU since it was never there. The DoJ could get involved, though. Of course, consumers could also file complaints with the FTC...

That would only hurt Microsoft. Unfortunate but true.

To the contrary, MS should keep pumping their services for the other OS', kill em where it hurts. Only issue is, make them better or at least the same level for Windows users.

Haha only if they really want to fail. More users on the android ecosystem then on the wp system.

Google wouldn't care, and it would only hurt Microsoft because they would lose a ton of customers. Stop acting brain dead.

Hold on, I'm trying to be shocked.....

Lol

Me 2 lol

Only more market share will change this pattern of player hating...

No it won't. Google just wants to crush Windows (phone).  

Microsoft's Windows smart phones will not die sooner or later a developer like blue stacks will make an App that allows windows smart phones to use Google play store apps and open source Android apps sites. The Blue stacks app has been around awhile it enables Windows 8 / 8.1 tablets to run Anorid apps.when one is made for windows smart phones it will tremendously diminish the Apps gap  between Windows smart phones have with android apps. 

Then I'd go to android in a blink. You know what running android apps did to BB. It never really helped them.

Why go for subpar experience (Emu for Android App) while you can have native support and privillaged experience on Android?

Microsoft should have Defender remove Chrome and block Google for a few months, might impact Google's quarter.

Damn, ya smart.

lol. I think the more tid for tad would be to do what google does: buy a company and if they are supporting chomebooks, cut them off at once. ChromeOS has been a flop for google and it is in worse place than windows phone. Whatever big apps are on those things will be missed if MS plays this game too.

Agreed. Unless the anti trust laws are applied equally, the world's PC users should be switched to Bing.

Considering the thing that's most done on Windows machines is web browsing...You realise that would only boost sales of Chromebooks, right?

Bing has been quite reliable.

We'll have to see if blocking Chrome has that effect.

Microsoft will never even try it. It would bring them nothing but angry consumers ;)

its good they removed it. we dont want their shit. Microsoft mantra is mobile first cloud first. i don't want any google shit here on windows phone

I'm not sure Microsoft's slogan has any relevance to whether Google supports WPs. Also, until MS creates a better option, it is better if it stays. A crappy option is better than no option at all.

I wonder how the mainstream media will cover this story.

Am I allowed to swear? I don't want to be scolded/banned/etc, but I believe I speak for everyone when I say, "F*** Google!" (There, I censored it for sake of the children.)

The children!!!

LOL

Microsoft should take Office and Onedrive support from iOS and maybe Android too...

nay, google fears office and one drive. let those apps burn a hole in their plans to push gdrive to everybody. What MS needs is run android apps NOW. In this way, no matter what google decides to do, you'll just side load the android app and google can't stop you.

This. Android compatibility is beyond a must. This would do more for the platform than any of the changes announced for Windows 10 on phones.

I disagree, this would spell the death of modern design and apps would be unrefined and inefficient

That would be making the mistake that Google is trying to avoid by making their own OS and services--they'd be handing the platform to Google and Windows Phone would essentially be a shitty version of Android since I doubt they're gonna be able to emulate ART/Dalvik with full speed.

NO...no Android apps. BlackBerry fans thought that would save BlackBerry.  

this^

Exactly. It didn't do anything for BlackBerry. So why would it do anything for Windows?

True, but BlackBerry is about to go on sale at Verizon - What about Lumias? No more word on that little mess.

They need to make it stupidly easy to turn android apps to universal apps that should help

Yep

No then Microsoft will be done for.
And I'm saying this as a Microsoft Fan.

Time to revive the Scroogle campaign

Or hire a better marketing firm since sniping at your competitors is shit advertising. You create a debating partner and promote the alternative brand. Apple doesn't do lame fuck cortana ads, and Google doesn't do lame fuck Microsoft ads. If your ad campaign is fuck you competitors you have a failure of a campaign on your hands. You need to show what you do with the devices and services. People who never hold an iPhone see how to work them in commercials. Google's commercials show off the cool shit on YouTube or whatever since they seem to be promoting YouTube the most lately   but seriously microsoft needs a campaign that does not highlight the competitors but just how amazing and pretty their products are.
 

What the butt says is true. I think the "Do Great Things" ad is along those lines, although I haven't seen it.

What do u thing Samsung did to win people over to galaxy from iPhone the same thing, and if u don't like their "bashing" then u truly don't believe Microsoft is superior, so y are u even here

Are you kidding? Some of Apple's msot successful ads from the 2000's were the Mac vs PC ads. You really don't remember these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByCyqSROGf0

"Apple doesn't do lame fuck cortana ads" - not anymore... when they were still trying to make their way back into the US mindshare they had a little campaign called "I'm a Mac."  Suprised you didn't know that...

I don't see Microsoft being mentioned anywhere in those I'm a Mac commercials. 

Yeah... The I'm a PC guy musta been a Linux PC... SMH

MS needs a complete POS solution including payment services. I know they sell the OS, but they need more than just that. They need to sell a surface with NFC and a CC reader to outclass all these merchants using iPads. Sell them a complete retail solution. Not these one off Kinect dressing kiosks.

I read awhile back that they're collaberating with PayPal to bring Paypal Here to Windows tablets and phones. Also they need to update their Microsoft Wallet app to allow NFC transactions like Apple Pay does.

I was thinking the same thing the other night...I see a lot of terminals that have PayPal payment options, perhaps MS could team up with PayPal. PayPal is currently in a good spot, but with Square (and others) out there they're in no position to sit idle. 

But the tech behind those point of sale NFC transactions were based on Softcard technology and IP that Google now owns, no? Striking a deal with Paypal or doing something with Microsoft Wallet doesn't solve anything.  The only solution, is to to do something like what Apple did, and develop another payments solution in-house.  But much of that is now locked up with patents owned by Apple.   Whatever solution Microsoft comes up with, they'll be paying patent royalties to either Softcard or Apple pay. This was a big coup/win for Google.

From what I've read by some other comments, Microsoft Wallet actually has the capability for NFC payments, but carriers blocked that ability due to some firmware issues or some crap like that. So more or less Wallet is completely useless because of that. It's hard telling whether or not Microsoft will be able to figure out a solution for this issue without violating any patents, but they need to act upon it soon because they don't need to be left behind again in the mobile race, they can't afford to be. The Paypal Here option would solve the issue of having a POS app with a card reader for transactions, but it unfortunately would not solve the ability to pay with NFC using your phone, that's what I meant to say earlier. Either way, that was definitely a cold blow by Google, but that doesn't come as a surprise to me.

Does Blackberry use soft card, and if so are they still supported?

Well they do have android app support. So they probably don't have a native one.

Oh no, not another app Windows Phone doesn't have. I used to be a giant fan but the app gap is ridiculous. It seems as though Microsoft doesn't even care. They have fantastic hardware and pretty decent software but the app gap is literally the only thing making Windows Phone a 3rd world country to Apple's and Google's industrialized nations.

did you read the article? what does MS caring have to do with anything? They care all they want, but when google buys a company, its first memo is: drop support for all MS platforms at once.

It does not matter in the long run though, Google is just hurting themselves.    in the background Microsofts is reinventing themselves and quietly attacking Chromebooks with cheap Windows licences that made the HP Stream possible for instance,  Free Office 365 licences for "all" students so there is no reason to use Google Docs anymore . Add more and more free space to OneDrive that just gets better and better, soon also witha music streaming service They are plannig a new browser that might actually be cross platform (no sure yet) , they is pushing big in corporate with Azure services, and now it seems even got Samsung to ship Microsoft solutinos with their coming Android phones  All while they also release (or buy) their software solutions  to all mobile platforms (except windows phone,but ecxpect that is about to change with Windows 10)   And also collecting quite a lot of money for every Android phone sold ..  that they can put into pushing their own plattform  for as long as it takes gain more and more grownd, like they are alreay doing. They might not gain a lot with consumers, but they do with corporations    What is Google doing?  Loosing ground on their mayor revenue source, Ads thanks to Facebook, and others Doing loony internet balloones. Self driving cars Trying to be an ISP  Making war robots  Making Chromebooks, or was it Android TV or Chrome TV,Cast  things they seems they dont really care about or update few months after they release it, because it is all an experiment.  And also project Zero making the Internet just litle less safe  .. all while ignoring the big security problems with Android,, and blaming that on OEM's not taking any responsibiliy the selves    All seems like "project Loon" at the moment , very fragmented and not sure what they will do next ,and what service they will buy or kill off next. Dont hate Google but seems they should focus on what got them started for a while,  Search . because  Google as a search engine gets worse every day .and has been for a while now. Seems to foucused on everything else , and nothing at the same time  

Actually, you didn't read the article. Google didn't buy any company, they didn't buy SoftCard. 

I think you're missing the point of this article entirely.

How does Google pulling this app mean Microsoft don't care? They do their best but its hard to persuade a lot of devs to build for Windows.

Google didn't pull the app, read the article again. 

When Google is removing apps from the platform, how is this Microsoft's fault? Should they just cave into Google after all the stunts they've pulled? 

You didn't read my comment correctly obviously. My point in it is NOT that Microsoft doesn't care about it's customers, it's that it can do a lot more things with Windows Phone but doesn't. Nothing to do with Google or Softcard (it's almost like I didn't mention them at all in my comment) it's the app gap that has barely gained any ground for the 3 years I've been following and using Windows Phone. And it seems like important apps are leaving as well (Softcard not included because you all will accuse me of not reading the above article which I did) such as many bank apps. The app gap gives me a feeling of a lack of effort by Microsoft, who seems to be more focused on making apps available on other devices..

Dude...really. MICROSOFT doesn't care? 

Microsoft had no choice in this!! Did you even read the article?!

Good thing I didn't say Microsoft did. You didn't read my comment correctly obviously. My point in it is NOT that Microsoft doesn't care about it's customers, it's that it can do a lot more things with Windows Phone but doesn't. Nothing to do with Google or Softcard (it's almost like I didn't mention them at all in my comment, it's the app gap that has barely gained any ground for the 3 years I've been following and using Windows Phone. And it seems like important apps are leaving as well (Softcard not included because you all will accuse me of not reading the above article which I did) such as many bank apps. The app gap gives me a feeling of a lack of effort by Microsoft, who seems to be more focused on making apps available on other devices. 

Microsoft cares about its customer wherever they are but Google on the other hand tries to crush every competition it faces. Even if android is dominant in the world that doesn't means everyone likes it at least not us. Google will pay for their arrogance

Haha you clearly did not read the article and for you to assume Microsoft doesn't care is clearly a mistake. This isn't the first time Google has shunned Windows Phone users. Remember the youtube scandal? Where Microsoft CARED enough to make the requested app(a good one too) but Google consistently banned it and not only that they asked for some very unreasonable requirements to the app that made no sense and in the end Microsoft had to give it up simply because it would not have made sense for them to make a nearly unusable app.

You didn't read my comment correctly obviously. My point in it is NOT that Microsoft doesn't care about it's customers, it's that it can do a lot more things with Windows Phone but doesn't. Nothing to do with Google or Softcard (it's almost like I didn't mention them at all in my comment) it's the app gap that has barely gained any ground for the 3 years I've been following and using Windows Phone. And it seems like important apps are leaving as well (Softcard not included because you all will accuse me of not reading the above article which I did) such as many bank apps. The app gap gives me a feeling of a lack of effort by Microsoft, who seems to be more focused on making apps available on other devices. 

Microsoft should work out a deal with Costco to become the sole mobile payment platform there... somehow!

Sad, but not a surprise. I've only used it a half dozen times since it came out, so it's not a huge loss to me. In Google's defense, ALL Softcard apps will be discontinued in the near future in favor of Google Wallet, but you know they won't put out a replacement for Softcard on our favorite platform because, well, it's Google.

And only useable by 1.1% of androids on the planet, and with Samsung's LoopPay, Google's wallet will be further slowed, impeded and worthless due to fragmentation. SoftCard wont be missed, and PayPal is working with MS to bring PayPal Here to Windows, and with one update our Wallet app could support NFC payments.
No big loss if you look at the big picture ;)

Samsung should get rapper Lupe Fiasco to endorse LoopPay, if you get my drift.

Yeah, Google without Samsung is pretty useless in the mobile market.

its almost like they buy up big properties that have windows apps just to tick off windows (phone) users. Am i glad they didn't purchase Nokia. Google can go frack themselves. MS for life!

Well... That was expected. Fucking google.

No surprise that a toddler throws a tantrum when it doesn't get its way. Microsoft should do the same but unlike oogle will turn the other cheek. Karma is ....... well you know the saying.

By 'tantrum' you mean this article, right?

That's childish.

Um yah, cyanogen might help with infiltration of this google mess

Doesn't make any sense. Wouldn't having the service available to more devices help in the battle with Apple Pay? Granted, the US phones might not make much of a dent, but what about the international side, where the Windows Phone market share is much more respectable?

Google does not want to contribute in ANY way to giving ANYONE a reason to buy a Windows Phone. They need the user data. Simple as that.

"don't be evil*" *conditions may apply

To hell with google. I don't need them anymore.

I really hate that attitude of Google, I guess I should consider transfer my business altogether to Microsoft

No question about it

Remove Outlook, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Office Apps, MSN apps, Xbox apps, etc from Android OS.
Instead Microsoft is unknowingly promoting ppl to buy Android where they get to use Google's apps like Gmail, Maps, YouTube, etc along with Microsoft's apps..
Then why any user would compromise on Google apps by buying WP. And why not buy Android where both Google's app & Microsoft's app's are there = no sacrifice, no compromise in Android platform. And STOP Microsoft STOP giving better features, performance, respect to Microsoft apps on Android & iOS, which are way worse on your own platform WP8.1

Microsoft is moving towards a services company, so that would be a disadvantage. Also, we don't have to stoop to a low level to get back. Just don't use their products, and, hate on them at every opportunity :P Looks like Microsoft is going to have to release OnePay soon...

I guess, I agree with you. I detest and ditch Google whenever possible :D

People are already buying Android without Microsoft promoting it. For Microsoft to do that would be pretty stupid. Just like it would be for Google to drop Chrome from the PC. Microsoft knows Windows Phone is a lost battle...much like Google knows there's no future in Chromebooks. Both platforms are only alive out of pride of the respective companies.

Lost battle? Wow, someone lives in a Google store. :)

Nop. Just the real world. Where marketshare of WP has dropped to 2.7% worldwide.

Lol,you sure like to only comment on articles that spell bad news for Microsoft.Just another bitter Nokia fan boy :)

Flooding the market with low cost phones was a smart move by Microsoft, and I think it will pay in the long run. It's basically how Android gained in market share. 

Unluckily I think that MS needs to offer these services to android in order to avoid a mass shift to google docs

this is why google cannot be trusted with the future of the internet. They will always put politics first. Even to this day, when windows 8 has a stablished based greater than all of linux and OSX combined, google refuses to acknoledge this.

Microsoft needs to do something drastic. They must have some card they can play. Also I hope they can get samsung to release galaxy phone with windows 10.

Rumor has it that Microsoft is reviving the android line. Probably where the Cyanogen inquiry comes into play

Google was stopping all supporting for WP. Please Microsoft stop Office app support for Android. :)

Google, welcome to antitrust law and sanctions.

You must not follow much news about Google, they've been getting slammed for the better part of a decade now in the EU, but there is nothing that can stop or regulate a company with that much money that is that critical to how people live their lives

I honestly believe at this point Microsoft should pull all of it's software from Android. No more Skype, Office, Minecraft, Sunrise Calendar, ect....Lets see how many people that use Android can live without Skype...  Edit: ^ You read my mind dude 

I'd love to see them do that, but for marketing purposes it would actually hurt Microsoft because not enough people use Windows Phone in order for them to make their apps exclusive to it. They need to have cross platform apps and services in order to gain momentum in the mobile marketplace

This

Uh...you do realise Google has services to cover ALL those apps...right? People on Android would just switch to Google's services.   I switched to Android, yet I kept ALL the Microsoft services. I use Outlook, OneDrive, Office etc instead of Google's offerings. If Microsoft were to pull those apps from the Play Store, I would sooner switch to the Google offerings than to return to Windows Phone. Like me, many. Microsoft knows that's a terribly stupid idea.

Well said. Stopping the (by most accounts excellent) Microsoft apps on Android would be cutting of their nose to spite their face.

Pull their services from 80% of software users over a flop of a mobile payment platform when most of their phones don't have NFC. That is a smart call

If they remove Skype, the users will flock to Hangouts. Simple. But if they actually decided to removed Minecraft hmmmmm

google afraid to windows phone will remove part of his couta on the market that makes such things, who owes nothing fears nothing.

I don't care how useful Google product and services are. I