WTH! Microsoft release Bing Deals app for Android, iPhone, not for Windows Phone

March 3, 2011 | By Surur

Microsoft has done it again – releasing a Bing Deals app for iPhone and Android without the same for Windows Phone 7.

It is getting extremely tiring to see Microsoft not supporting their own mobile OS. We can understand Microsoft wanting to be where the customers are, but unless they were subliminally telling their Windows Phone 7 users that they should also be on iPhone and Android, they need to get the whole company on message and make sure that every department include Windows Phone 7 in their strategy.

After all, having a viable mobile strategy will do a lot more for Microsoft’s share price than adding another 0.5% to Bing market share.

Update: Microsoft has made a statement to ZDNet.

“The (deals) functionality is based on HTML5 and will work with phones that support it, but today is being released for iOS and Android. Windows Phone 7 announced that they will have HTML5 support in an update later this calendar year, at which point deals will work great on Windows Phone.”

To which we respond – why develop a service in such a way as to exclude all Windows Phone 7 users?

Thanks Xin Sun for the tip.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged android, bing, iphone, microsoft, windows phone 7

adamucf

Well put Surur. Absolutely pathetic.

Hatorade

I disagree, "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer"

I am pretty sure there are some updates in line for the Bing App on WP7, you have to realize that due to the tight integration of Bing on WP7 its not that easy to update without some sort of major update. I am sure we will see some cool stuff in the upcoming updated for WP7.

sammy

I don't care about the technical implementation. What is the incentive to buy a Windows Phone when we know that Microsoft will deliver new stuff for iPhone and Android and then maybe Windows Phone. You have to agree that this really unfair to all current windows phones users.

PG2G

It's not a Bing Deals app, its an update to their mobile website. Most likely it requires HTML5.

nick

Exactly, i think Surur is jumping the gun here, besides they should keep their products separate in terms of competing even thought it should be an integration of everything. The reason to keep it separate is so that there is no stalling of the development of each product.

TorVez

I love my Windows Phone, but come on MSFT. If you want me to switch to Android (and I'm tempted), you're doing all the right things. Keep it up.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Attila-Horváth/100000666438272 Attila Horváth

Well, it only works in the US anyways, like almost every other service, so I, for one won't miss it…
But yes, it's getting pretty annoying at this point. Can you imagine Google or Apple releasing products that don't work on their own OSes?!
GP007

Bing Deals is new to the Bing website and US only. It's not really an app.
http://www.winrumors.com/microsoft-partners-with-…
moonman

Oh come on… Microsoft is not all about Windows Phone. Bing is an entirely separate department, they develop "for themselves" not for another department or two. They will release Bing updates for the Windows Phone when it is ready. And you must admit, currently they make more money on iPhone & Android and that's what it's all about.

talksavvy

your voice of reason is well needed!
http://twitter.com/EJ1024 @EJ1024

well said, its all about business……. 90% Business 10% competition.__Like what I said before MSFT doesn't want to take over, they just want share of the pie, they could have taken over the market long time ago if they want to.__MSFT is making money off googles Android and apples iPhone, you heard royalty fees????__And plus who cares about bing on Google and Apple?????__FYI my droid x is coming tomorrow. I'm tired of waiting for updates, the march nodo update will be cancelled again and again again, I love my phone hd7 but ……………..

http://wmpoweruser.com wmpoweruser

As mentioned in the article, Microsoft is languishing not because they are not making enough money, but because they are seen as not having a viable mobile strategy. Microsoft's departments are not being strategic by supporting other mobile platforms first, at least not for the whole company.

rsg

I agree.

The only hope I have is that when the features that other platforms get first come to WP7, they will be better implemented and offer more than the rest.

AhTiong

Wow….. But MS just hit on their own toes! Why demo on an iPhone when MS already has WP7? Yes, it is a service. But why can't they provide the same service to other mobiles platforms too, but having that on WP7 first? Does Google show off Google Map on Windows Mobile? Does Apple show off iTunes on Android? NO!

Is not about making money here, but about priorities. Of course they are making more from iPhone & Android because the user bases are damn huge! And if MS still not showing off WP7, they will just get bigger and WP7 will be gone for good then….

Do you still not see the pt?

Microsoft

this is a technical problem, WP7 doesnt have HTML5 yet, they are working day and night on that html5 update

schiefersoft

you sounds like a fanboy

http://www.facebook.com/man.the.canon Brandon Hanchett

I'm gonna sum this all up in one try: This "version" of m.bing.com is written with HTML5 code, only devices that support HTML5 will render these new features. WP7 doesn't yet support HTML5, YET! It's not a matter of overlooking Microsoft's own OS, HTML5 is just the huge update coming through later. Once we get that, then we will get all these features.
PS: Or you could just use the full Bing site from your phone and get it.

Xin Sun

I don't buy this. So are they telling the users that IPhone and Android browsers are more advanced, so if you want more features, and go with them? I can't see why this can't be implemented and integrated with the current native Bing app on WP7. Or like the comments on the launch page said "Not sure why HTML5 is so key to this scenario."

PG2G

I'm sure it, a long with a bunch of other missing functionality, will make its way to the native Bing app. However an integral part of the operating system is not as easy to update as a web site.

Xin Sun

And why made the mobile site html5-exclusive? I absolutely see no reason for that as HTML5 is only available on competitors' browsers.

jabtano

But it's coming soon. the battle cry for WP7 coming soon!

rss5

Seems like developers and fans are the only people who is contributing to the platform? With commercials and everything? Seems like Microsoft is giving up on Windows Phone 7. Well, me myself sold the LG Optimus 7 and i'm getting an Android, Microsoft didn't put enough effort, they need to make the phone exclusive for a while so people will buy the OS.

http://twitter.com/liberalrepublic @liberalrepublic

this article is misleading. it doesnt work on opera browser on my android phone.

i have an android phone. i have to reboot it atleast twice a day. my android phone freezes a lot. i am sorry to say this but i am tired of android! its better to be late than comeup with a bad product.

http://twitter.com/liberalrepublic @liberalrepublic

it will come on windows phone 7 as soon as they release IE9 mobile. IE9 supports HTML5.____it works on andorid's brower, iphone but not on opera on android. So, it has nothing to do with the OS but with the browser.__
Ravishing Rant Rude

This is again, more evidence of Microsoft seemingly tripping itself up. There is an easy solution for situations like this: have the Bing team working on WP7 and other mobile OS's at the same time!

Google's strategy is to update their own stuff first, the slightly update iOS, BB and webOS apps. Why can't MSFT seem to do that as well, especially with Bing on WP7 being modular?!?! Update Bing on WP7 FIRST along with the web portal, THEN update m.bing. Why does that seem so hard for them to do?
thierry

I am becoming extremely tired with Microsoft's attitude.

Shall I move to iPhone?

F…. You Microsoft.

schiefersoft

yes you can

jabtano

Well I read the new today Oh Boy! it's all about Apple. it's all about Android. MS had a chance with WP7 but hey like apple says there is an app for that MS says coming soon!
chinch

fanboys are the worst.

MS worked on OneNote for iPhone for 18 months and released it a month ago.

Fanboys whined.

MS will need at least 18 months until after WP7 shiped to have feature parity with iOS and Android mobile apps. This goes without saying.

Bing anything needs to be on the largest mobile platforms of today and tomorrow.
efjay

why does any of this mean it can't be on WP7? Just release a compatible version, not nothing at wall.
http://www.facebook.com/rfleites Richard Fleites

I, for one, am moving away from MIcrosoft as a platform. I really wanted to embrace the Microsoft ecosystem seeing that I have an XBox360S. However, they just lost me as a customer. This is absolutely pathetic. I currently own an HD7 and while I like it, the platform is not glue-ing gel'ing very well. The Google and Apple ecosystem is way ahead and have much better devices and support.

If Microsoft really was behind WP7, they would of been more aggressive with it. I'm also seeing tons of Microsoft employees fleeing big blue for other companies like Google, Facebook, etc.

http://twitter.com/EJ1024 @EJ1024

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%, THEY DONT GIVE A SHIT.

http://twitter.com/EJ1024 @EJ1024

MSFT is giving up on wp7, I feel Paul thurrot pains men, he is right instead of patches they should've fix it little by little, then by pass the carriers, I'm done with msft, I'm done with my phone hd7, just bought the droid x as a back up, if I don't get nodo updates, RIP WP7

zzz

Good luck with your laggy Android geek phone…
I hope other whiners here also just go to iphone or Android and leave this site to grownups!

Ralf

I am stupid, I have buy a windows phone 7.
http://twitter.com/polaromonas @polaromonas

MS needs to get its act together and roll out updates faster. And it has to open its WP7 APIs so that more developers can work on. WP7 desperately needs more apps and closing its APIs doesn't help that.
Rico

First off, how many people here actually care about Bing Deals, especially given it's US only? It really sounds like something I would've checked out once then never again.

I'm guessing they went with HTML 5 because of the built-in geolocation support. It makes sense because most mobile browsers support HTML 5, and they're obviously pushing for mobile searches here. I really don't see any purpose in coding and having to maintain a separate HTML 4 version which'll be abandoned soon anyways, just to run on browsers that aren't HTML 5 compliant. A better question would be why they don't have HTML 5 support in mobile IE already, but of course after scrapping what was WM7 they didn't have much time to work on WP7, and the IE team is still finishing up IE9 for the desktop, so work on the mobile browser is slowed as that gets released.

I really don't know what some of you expect the Bing team to do here. It's not like they intentionally excluded WP7. They wisely created a standards-compliant site that can be used in any HTML 5 browser, which WP7 will have later this year. If they waited for WP7 to catch up, they'd miss at least a quarter's worth of captured searches, by which time Google or some other company may have released a similar product.

If I were going to be upset about something regarding WP7, it would be this pre-NoDo update issue, which seems to be an issue with Samsung more than Microsoft. There's no ETA on the fix for that and the real update is expected soon.
http://www.facebook.com/eric12341 Eric Worthington

you guys are fucking idiots. MS is not giving up on wp7,if they were they wouldnt be working on so many updates for it. just because they are releasing an app for iphone and android does not mean they dont give a shit, they are doing this to increase the marketshare with bing. so GET OVER IT!!

http://www.facebook.com/rfleites Richard Fleites

Eric – it's the amount of apps they are releasing to other ecosystems rather than their own. We are talking about 10+ apps already since WP7 came out. This is not normal. I know they are trying to gain market share with other established ecosystems, but this is a vote of "no confidence" for Microsoft.

This is not the only reason to feel pretty bad about the platform right now. Updates are slow to come, they are failing, and Ballmer has no vision. They started off with the right idea of not letting any 3rd party vendor modify WP7 until they partnered with Nokia. While Nokia is a good company, they will modify the hell out of WP7 and this is not a good thing.

http://www.facebook.com/eric12341 Eric Worthington

updates are only failing on samsung phones, the samsung android phones have this issue too.

John

Bing deals are not being sold by Microsoft itself but are the result of a partnership with The Dealmap, US-based website that aggregates deals from a range of sources including high profile services like Groupon and Living Social.
Drewidian

OK Ok… Calm down everyone. Again. I feel that I must point to the Department of Justice agreement in which MS cannot integrate certain services. This agreement expires in May of this year. That being said, MS probably already has plans to have a ton of features integrated and working together in the new "ManGo" update slated for the fall of this year. If you look at all of the services that MS currently has, they are very "siloed" and independent of one another. I'm sure they are planning much tighter and coherent integration of their services once this deal expires. They just don't want to give any amunition to Apple and Google for an Anti-Trust violation. If MS does things right, and waits for the agreement to expire, they can do whatever they wish. As of now, building experience and learning what works and doesn't on Android and IOS as well as providing some services to avoid the anti-trust isssue makes sense from a legal perspective.
markuslaff

<div class="idc-message" id="idc-comment-msg-div-132371784"><a class="idc-close" title="Click to Close Message" href="javascript: IDC.ui.close_message(132371784)">Close Message Comment posted. <a class="idc-share-facebook" onclick="IDC.ui.fb_wrapper(132371784)" href="javascript: void(null)" style="text-decoration: none;">Share on Facebook or <a href="javascript: IDC.ui.close_message(132371784)">Close Message wow… I hope MS is reading this.

MS should be sweating right now. This is a Windows Phone fan site and look at how everyone reacted.

It seems that MS understands that all of its platforms need a major update. I think they anticipated this to be Win 8 but unfortunately, their competition is waiting for them. Apparently neither are the other divisions of MS.

I actually like that Bing is moving forward without the rest of company. All divisions should work like this and should compete with each other to keep up. I think once they unify the core of their platforms on Win 8 things well smooth out but until then, get ready for a bumpy ride.
http://twitter.com/Bigsro @Bigsro

Come on guys – why be so naive? Surely MS has a vested interest in keeping all of its services running regardless of platform.

All this site does lately is bitch about MS and what it does. How are the devs supposed to get this update onto WP7 when it doesnt support HTML5 yet. We all know its coming. So stop whining about it.

Seriously Surur – you should know this.
ralphlaw

Many are saying "well it's HTML5", as if it's a valid excuse.

But in the big mobile OS companies, only Microsoft will deliver a product using a technology that inevitably excludes all its customers.

It really doesn't matter *how* that happened. I purchased a Windows Phone 7, and I can't use a bunch of their services. But people who bought the competition can.

Microsoft could have (a) rolled out IE9 or (b) use another technology that's compatible with WP7. Either of those would be fine.
Randy Jay

Are you guys seriosuly getting mad over this. For intelligence sake havent you forgotten that every Windows Phone 7 has Bing build into the phone with every feature that their HTML5 sites have and more. That's like Android users getting mad because iPhone is getting an update on their Google seach website when they have the Google search client built in throughout the phone. We can browse through much faster than they can on their pretty little website. Some of the things are way better is the voice search option built in, maps, local listings that load much faster and could be saved to your phone much faster and more efficiently than being on some website.

So I wish that all of you really stop whining and start to look at the bigger picture here. More people using Bing like they are doing is going to bring in a lot more services that work with Bing that are going to be implemented into our updates at the end of the year. Sort of like how Nokia is teaming up with Microsoft with their OVI map integration, maybe they would input that into the Bing Program thoughout all Windows Phones.

http://www.facebook.com/eric12341 Eric Worthington

they are all idiots thats why theyre getting mad