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Google pulls YouTube from Amazon’s Echo Show as competitive spirit turns nasty

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By John Glenday, Reporter

September 27, 2017 | 2 min read

Google has abruptly pulled its YouTube app from Amazon’s Echo Show device as part of a broiling feud which has now gone public.

Google, Amazon

Google pulls YouTube from Amazon’s Echo Show as competitive spirit turns nasty

The root issue is a long running spat between the technology giants after Google accused Amazon of ‘violating its terms of service’ leading to a ‘broken user experience’ which has yet to be resolved despite exhaustive negotiations.

This meant that YouTube videos were displayed on the Echo Show without key features such as video recommendations and channel subscriptions which are part and parcel of the YouTube experience on other formats.

Fed up with this perceived inaction Google has opted to simply pull the plug instead, riling its competitor which responded in kind with a statement: “As of this afternoon, Google has chosen to no longer make YouTube available on Echo Show, without explanation and without notification to customers. There is no technical reason for that decision, which is disappointing and hurts both of our customers.”

For its part Google said it hoped the draconian action would be a temporary measure, writing: “Amazon’s implementation of YouTube on the Echo Show violates our terms of service, creating a broken user experience. We hope to be able to reach an agreement and resolve these issues soon.”

The Echo Show, launched in June, joins a growing suite of voice-controlled Echo devices which have been outselling Alphabet’s rival Google Home gadgets.

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