Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2011/03/04/bing_deals/

Microsoft's new 'Bing deals' fails to support Windows Phone 7

Android: Check. iOS: Check. WP7: Hang up, caller

By Kelly Fiveash

Posted in Personal Tech, 4th March 2011 10:44 GMT

Microsoft launched a Groupon-like site dubbed 'Bing deals' that works on desktops, Apple's iPhone and Google's Android device but not on Redmond's own Windows Phone 7.

The company said the service was available in desktop and mobile versions only for US customers currently.

Local deals service provider Dealmap partnered with Microsoft on the new site to curate the service.

Bing deals essentially cuts and shuts offers from Groupon, Living Social and Restaurant.com among other e-coupon providers, into its service.

The idea being that Microsoft's search engine acts as a one-stop shop for juicy online coupon offers.

However, readers of Microsoft's Bing deals' blog were quick to point out the major flaw in the company's announcement.

"Being an ex MSFT share holder and former employee... this is really disappointing. Great feature and I'm sure it rocks, but I'll only get to use it if I ditch my WP7 device and move to Android. Is that what you're telling me?" wrote someone with the handle TorVez.

Microsoft's Bing team admitted that they too were disappointed by the lack of WP7 support.

"As Windows Phone users we understand," said MS. "The 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 team announced that they will have HTML5 support in an update later this calendar year, at which point deals will work great on Windows Phone."

Until that point Microsoft is hoping to woo Android and iOS fanboys over to the Bing ranch, while at the same time alienating its own WP7 customers. ®