Google Maps for Windows Phone: Was Google Blocking Windows Phone Users from Google Maps?

Google Maps for Windows Phone: This past weekend, there was a bit of an eruption in the tech world when several sources reported that Windows phone users were unable to access Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Maps.

Early on, Google explained that this was nothing more than a technical glitch in which Internet Explorer, the Windows 8 default browser, was incompatible with Google Maps. Instead of being sent to Google Maps, users were being directed to Google’s homepage.

According to a statement by a Google spokesperson as given to The Next Web, things have been cleared up:

“Today, a Google spokesperson provided The Next Web with a statement indicating that the company intends to remove the redirect that it has in place for Windows Phone users who attempt to access the Google Maps product, ending its practice of sending them to its search homepage.”

While it may appear that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) was singling out Windows devices, nothing could be further from the truth. The search company has limited access to its Maps application in the past when performance was not up to par, such as on the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad and its Opera browser.

Here is Google’s statement to The Next Web: