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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. ®
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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.
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.
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.
I was wondering why Synch sucked so much. It's a pretty particular product.
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.
Until a few months ago, my son had one of those weird Windows phones.
LOVE the headline! “Tens...”
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.
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?It would have been helpful for Microsoft to specify all the "backend services" that will be phased out.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.
just got a samsung j3-smooth, fast, battery life, cheap.
Yeah, I'm a little surprised that that page didn't specify them. Microsoft is usually more explicit and/or helpful about such things.
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.
Microsoft also abandoned all who bought Plays for Sure tunes as well.
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.
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.
That was going to be the iPod Killer.
Little did we know at the time that iPhone would be the true iPod killer.
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