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Tens to be disappointed as Windows 10 Mobile death date set: Doomed phone OS won't see 2020
The Register ^ | Jan 18, 2019 | Shaun Nichols

Posted on 01/19/2019 5:57:04 PM PST by dayglored

Microsoft to hang up support on 10 December (2019)

Microsoft has formally set the end date for support of its all-but-forgotten Windows 10 Mobile platform.

The Redmond code factory said today that, come December 10, it's curtains for the ill-fated smartphone venture. The retirement will end a four-year run for a Microsoft phone effort that never really got off the ground and helped destroy Nokia in the process.

"The end of support date applies to all Windows 10 Mobile products, including Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise," Microsoft declared.

"Windows 10 Mobile users will no longer be eligible to receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options or online technical content updates from Microsoft for free."

The end-of-life announcement hardly comes as a surprise. Microsoft's last major release for Windows 10 Mobile was version 1709 back in October of 2017. While Microsoft has maintained support for the platform, the quality of those fixes has left something to be desired.

Not that it will matter much in the grand scheme of things. The last round of smartphones for the platform were released in the early fall of 2017, and according to recent estimates the Windows Phone market share checks in at less than 0.5 per cent.

Those who, for whatever reason, still have their hearts set of using a Windows 10 Mobile handset will still have the option of purchasing a third-party support service (if those even exist) but those efforts will not be supported by Microsoft.

With no successor in the pipeline, this is likely to be Microsoft's final foray into the smartphone space, at least for the foreseeable future. Redmond is, however, continuing to offer its software and services for both the Android and iOS platforms that have essentially monopolized the mobile OS space these days, and linking up PCs with smartphones remains a high priority in Redmond. ®


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: microsoft; nokia; windows; windows10; windows10mobile; windowspinglist
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Another Microsoft woulda-coulda-shoulda. How is it that MS has garnered such a poor track record in the mobile market? Can we really blame it all on Steve Ballmer, or was there something else going on?
1 posted on 01/19/2019 5:57:04 PM PST by dayglored
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To: Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; AppyPappy; arnoldc1; ATOMIC_PUNK; bajabaja; ...
Windows 10 Mobile circles the drain for the last time... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

2 posted on 01/19/2019 5:57:50 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

They exited the automobile space when they ditched Sync after Ford bought into it hook, line, and sinker.

Microsoft cannot be trusted by any manufacturer or end user.


3 posted on 01/19/2019 5:59:30 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: dayglored

Decades ago, an intelligent, insightful good friend of mine prophesied that Windows CE and its successors would take over the digital assistant (later smartphone) market. How wrong he was. I knew it after trying to configure it to sync for a co-worker.


4 posted on 01/19/2019 6:00:15 PM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: dayglored

Damn, I’ve actually got a Windows 10 Mobile phone. I turn it on to get text messages for 2nd factor authentications and such. Mostly I have so as to keep an old phone number for about $40/yr with all calls forwarded to my walk around phone paid for by work.

Really didn’t like the interface, but it was nice to display as a curiosity. No big loss.


5 posted on 01/19/2019 6:09:52 PM PST by glorgau
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To: ConservativeMind
They exited the automobile space when they ditched Sync

I was wondering why Synch sucked so much. It's a pretty particular product.

6 posted on 01/19/2019 6:11:41 PM PST by glorgau
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To: dayglored; Swordmaker; ThunderSleeps
Another useful article over here on Ars Technica, saying Microsoft is actively encouraging Windows 10 Mobile users to switch to iOS or Android: Microsoft's guidance for customers is to "move to a supported Android or iOS device" and use the range of Microsoft applications on one of those platforms instead.
7 posted on 01/19/2019 6:18:25 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored
Given the success of the Surface line, I'm a little surprised a Skype-like capability wasn't integrated into the OS. It's not all that mobile, but would help build the ecosystem.

8 posted on 01/19/2019 6:21:31 PM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: dayglored

Until a few months ago, my son had one of those weird Windows phones.


9 posted on 01/19/2019 6:22:06 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Twitter is Trump's laser pointer and the media are all cats.)
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To: dayglored

LOVE the headline! “Tens...”


10 posted on 01/19/2019 6:23:25 PM PST by CodeToad ( Hating on Trump is hating on me and America!.)
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To: CodeToad

It’s The Register, master of sarcasm. Their tongues are so firmly planted in their cheeks it’s a wonder they can down a pint.


11 posted on 01/19/2019 6:24:49 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored
Windows 10 Mobile End of Support: FAQ

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4485197/windows-10-mobile-end-of-support-faq

From the FAQ:

Will my device still work after December 10, 2019?

Yes. Your Windows 10 Mobile device should continue to work after December 10, 2019, but there will be no updates after that date (including security updates) and device backup functionality and other backend services will be phased out as described above.

It would have been helpful for Microsoft to specify all the "backend services" that will be phased out.
12 posted on 01/19/2019 6:41:32 PM PST by TChad
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To: dayglored

just got a samsung j3-smooth, fast, battery life, cheap.


13 posted on 01/19/2019 6:50:36 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: TChad
> It would have been helpful for Microsoft to specify all the "backend services" that will be phased out.

Yeah, I'm a little surprised that that page didn't specify them. Microsoft is usually more explicit and/or helpful about such things.

14 posted on 01/19/2019 6:50:40 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: 867V309

Still running on my c.2014 iPhone 5c, long gone out of support but still working just fine. Not sure what I’ll do if/when it finally falls over.


15 posted on 01/19/2019 6:54:56 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: ConservativeMind

Microsoft also abandoned all who bought Plays for Sure tunes as well.


16 posted on 01/19/2019 6:56:15 PM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: dayglored
Yeah, I'm a little surprised that that page didn't specify them.

Will maps still work? Will they continue to be be updated? Will apps that require location info still work? Will Cortana support end? I presume that basic phone service will still work, but how about texting? Will the Microsoft weather app still work? And so on.

17 posted on 01/19/2019 7:04:55 PM PST by TChad
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To: dayglored

Not the first time Microsoft exited the cell phone business.

Their first attempt was the innovative Kin phone, developed at a cost of $500,000,000.
They sold 500 phones.

That’s not a typo.


18 posted on 01/19/2019 7:18:38 PM PST by ctdonath2 (The Red Queen wasn't kidding.)
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To: dayglored


Still running on my c.2014 iPhone 5c, long gone out of support but still working just fine. Not sure what I’ll do if/when it finally falls over.

I hear ya. my recently retired was a nokia tiny candy bar c 2008! I still don't pay for data but with wifi everywhere I don't need it. I have t mobile legacy prepaid cell for emergency (cheap!), and magic jack app for wifi calling. The j3 is awesome on wifi.


19 posted on 01/19/2019 7:22:04 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: dayglored
Does anybody remember the Microsoft Zune?

That was going to be the iPod Killer.

Little did we know at the time that iPhone would be the true iPod killer.

20 posted on 01/19/2019 7:25:02 PM PST by SamAdams76
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