All Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile users knew it. The only thing missing was the official announcement, but for some strange reason, spokespeople preferred to avoid the topic altogether, or use very vague and imprecise phrases. However, a couple of tweets by Joe Belfiore, one of the main faces of Windows Phone in recent times, finally confirmed it: current devices will continue to receive fixes and security patches, but there will be no new features or updated hardware. Windows Phone as a platform is dead.
If you enter any Windows Phone forum, you'll notice something peculiar: a certain hostility from its users. Now, that hostility is not directed at newcomers. Quite the opposite: every time a technical problem arises, they do their best to help. The target of that anger is none other than Microsoft. A company competing in the mobile space is supposed to do everything possible to win consumer loyalty, but Redmond managed to go in exactly the opposite direction, with an ease that gives chills. Some users still believe Microsoft will turn things around. Windows on ARM, Andromeda, and the mythical Surface Phone are the most cited reasons. In the short term, we can only say this: Windows Phone is dead.
The confirmation (if we can really call it that) came through Joe Belfiore himself, vice president of the "Windows and Devices" group, who shared several messages with the public on his Twitter account. In any case, he had the courage to announce what Microsoft never said in official events or direct meetings with the press. Windows 10 Mobile will continue to receive security updates and major bug fixes, but the launch of additional features or new devices is "not the focus" of the company. This basically amounts to the classic "extended support", so the rest will depend on those companies that remain interested in keeping apps on the platform (which can be counted on one hand).
Belfiore also said they tried "very hard" to incentivize and encourage the launch of applications. Special tools were created and even different sums of money were paid to developers, but the volume of users was never high enough to guarantee long-term commitments. That volume never reached critical levels due to some disastrous decisions from Redmond. The traumatic transition from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8, the acquisition and subsequent discard of Nokia, the lack of a solid high-end, and the debut of Windows 10 Mobile in a calamitous state sealed the fate of the operating system. It's a real shame. Windows Phone became very popular in Europe and Latin America. Instead of gaining strength there, some minds at Microsoft judged the entire project by its performance in the United States, where it never exceeded 5% adoption. Today, mobile device users are trapped in the Apple-Google duopoly. Is there room for a third player?
