Google Sync Shutting Down for New Users on Jan. 30, 2013

Google has announced it will be shutting down Google Sync and Google Calendar Sync, as part of a blog post titled “Winter Cleaning”. The change is only for new users signing up after January 30th, 2013:

• Google Sync was designed to allow access to Google Mail, Calendar and Contacts via the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® protocol. With the recent launch of CardDAV, Google now offers similar access via IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV, making it possible to build a seamless sync experience using open protocols. Starting January 30, 2013, consumers won’t be able to set up new devices using Google Sync; however, existing Google Sync connections will continue to function. Google Sync will continue to be fully supported for Google Apps for Business, Government and Education. Users of those products are unaffected by this announcement.

• In addition to Google Sync, we’re discontinuing Google Calendar Sync on December 14, 2012 and Google Sync for Nokia S60 on January 30, 2013. We’re also ending service for SyncML, a contacts sync service used by a small number of older mobile devices on January 30, 2013.

Google Sync was a way for users to use Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for push email, contacts and calendars. As this is set to disappear, Google wants users to use CardDAV and CalDAV instead. Back in September, Google announced CardDAV for syncing contacts and CalDAV for calendars.

There was no further information as to how much longer existing Google Sync users would be able to use the ActiveSync protocol once new sign ups expire in the new year. If you already have a device setup with ActiveSync, this doesn’t affect you, for now.