So… that only took about seven years to crash and burn out. Microsoft announced Windows Phone 7 in the fall of 2010 but they never had a chance against the iPhone or the Android vanguard. It’s been interesting to watch the slow tank over the years and just a twinge painful because Nokia was involved and they used to make solid phones. Sure, there were a couple or three flurries of news bites where MS would make some grand announcement, like when they released Windows Phone 8 and WP10, but there was generally no interest from NO body. They were never a contender.
I used to be a MS basher, but to be truthful I changed my mind when Ballmer finally stepped down around the summer of 2014 and passed the CEO reins to Nadella, and I watched what happened with the company. Ballmer leaving was a shot in the arm that MS needed and they were able to really get to work on new versions of Windows and other initiatives, even focusing on their software to run on their phone competitors (smart!). I was interested in the platform enough that a couple years ago I bought a lower-end phone running WP7 so I could play around with it. Even with the low phone specs, it ran well and I did enjoy seeing what it offered. It’s true that one very big reason for the phone’s failure was always the lack of apps.
So I’ve softened my stance since 2010: it’s too bad that Windows Phone didn’t work out, only because competition is good for everyone involved. I’m not saying this is true about their phone at all, but in the tech industries, the best does not always win out. WP was classy and different. MS is cutting the fat and culling the herd… looking back now it seems like it was just kind of a big experiment, anyway.
[https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/9/16446280/microsoft-finally-admits-windows-phone-is-dead]
Microsoft finally admits Windows Phone is dead
“In a series of tweets, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore has revealed that the software giant is no longer developing new features or hardware for Windows 10 Mobile. While Windows Phone fans had hoped Microsoft would update the platform with new features, it’s now clear the operating system has been placed into servicing mode, with just bug fixes and security updates for existing users.”