Microsoft shuttering Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace
App customers pushed to Phone 7
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Microsoft has announced that it will close the application marketplace for Windows Mobile 6.x users on May 9, and is warning people to get their last updates in now.
"Applications and games acquired from the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace service installed on your Windows Mobile 6.x phone will continue to work after the service is discontinued on May 9, 2012," said Microsoft in a letter to customers. "However, additional downloads of these applications and games from the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace service will no longer be available."
Redmond also told users to back up their data as soon as possible, because if the phone loses any apps after the May cut-off data they won't be able to get them back. Microsoft isn't commenting further on how long it will continue to support the Mobile platform, but we're betting that announcement will come sooner rather than later.
The last build of Mobile, version 6.5.5, was released to manufacturers in October 2009, and even Steve Ballmer wasn't too impressed with it. He took personal charge of the Mobile team to kick it into shape, and the result is Phone 7.
The move is a not-so-subtle boot up the backside to those Windows Mobile users who haven't upgraded to a new Phone 7 handset. Since upgrading of software isn't possible in most cases, this could mean a slight uptick in Phone 7 unit sales – but one suspects that people who are still using the antiquated operating system are probably just using the device as a phone and aren't that bothered about apps. ®
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COMMENTS
Re: I'd gladly use a WP7 handset
I've got a HTC; it's older than 4 years, it runs Windows 6.
It's also been rotting in a drawer for at least 3 years because it runs Windows 6.
Progress
Back in the 70s it took 2 hours Lon-NYC now its 7. We had a 15 minute Dover Calais hovercraft (hoverspeed) and now it takes almost 2 hours.
Ok let me get this straight. 12 years ago my pocketPC device had Microsoft Word, Excel etc and allowed me to edit those documents on the go, with a colour screen, internet, handwriting recognition in running hand, wifi and bluetooth...
12 years later not ONE mobile device on the market can match that, and WP7 doesnt let me edit word or excel documents. Progress is amazing.
Microsoft have really stuffed up here.
Working for a small ISV. We have three customer for whom we have developed and support Windows Mobile applications. Guess what? The next iteration of the application will be for Android and iOS.
Why?
Because they (the customer) perceives Windows Mobile 6 as "end of life" (and this news enforces that impression) despite the likes of Motorola Solutions who produce the Windows Mobile "enterprise" devices promising 4 year support for new devices.
So they want to move away from Windows Mobile. Do they make the seemingly obvious migration to Windows Phone?
Nope.
Why?
Because there is no migration path from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone (software 100% incompatible) and they perceive Windows Phone as immature with a doubtful future. If they could easily migrate their existing apps to Windows Phone it would have a chance, but its a full rewrite whatever they choose, so they choose iOS and Android.
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