Microsoft is putting an end to Windows Mobile support this year

Microsoft is finally ending support for devices on Windows Mobile, its all-but-failed smartphone ecosystem. The Redmond company, who once hoped to compete with the likes of Android and iOS with the platform, has announced that users who still own the relevant devices will no longer receive official software updates by the end of 2019. These updates had included new security patches, hotfixes and some forms of free assistance and technical support.

This end-of-lifecycle notification applies to the only two versions of Windows Mobile that had still had this level of support from Microsoft. They are Window 10 Mobile version 1703, for which support will cease on June 11th, 2019; and Window 10 Mobile version 1709, which will come to the end of its official life on December 10, 2019. However, active devices may still be able to back up their settings data, as well as that for some apps, until March 10, 2020. In addition, some phones may also be capable of photo backups for 12 months after the official end of their support.

Microsoft made this announcement via its Windows Support for Mobile page. Here, it has also indicated that anyone who may have bought a new Windows phone (for whatever reason) should not look to the company for returns. They will need to contact the seller in question instead. The company also addressed the question of what remaining Windows Mobile should do for a phone in the future. Unsurprisingly, it involves transitiioning to a more reliable platform. iOS and Android were mentioned specifically in this regard.

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