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Microsoft Phases Out Windows Mobile AppsLast week Microsoft began notifying Windows Mobile 6.x developers that the company will no longer accept new Windows Mobile applications for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile starting July 15, 2011.
Last week Microsoft began notifying Windows Mobile 6.x developers that the company will no longer accept new Windows Mobile applications for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile starting July 15, 2011.
The company also announced a transition plan to move Microsoft My Phone customers onto Windows Live SkyDrive storage service.
The moves come as Microsoft is winding down support for its Windows Mobile 6.x operating systems, following the release of the Windows Phone 7 OS last October. Citing company sources, veteran Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley reported that Windows Mobile 6.5.3 will be the final release of the Windows Mobile OS.
"Microsoft has said Windows Mobile 6.x support for customers ends January 8, 2013," Foley wrote. "End of distribution date (for Microsoft partners) is October 31, 2013 for smartphones using the WM 6.x operating system, and April 30, 2017 for embedded handheld devices using the WM 6.x core."
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the dates given to Foley for the end of support for Windows Mobile 6.x. Starting July 15, 2011, the company will begin phasing out the Microsoft My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile services. According to the Microsoft spokesperson, "On this date, the Windows Marketplace for Mobile website will be taken offline and users will no longer be able to browse, buy or download applications for older Windows Mobile operating systems via the Web. The Windows Marketplace for Mobile service will continue to be available on-device via the Marketplace client, however. The impacted Microsoft My Phone service and Web-based Windows Marketplace are exclusive to Windows Mobile 6.x platforms."
Transition to SkyDrive
Microsoft posted a notice and a support article last week describing a transition from the Microsoft My Phone Service for Windows Mobile 6.x to Windows Live SkyDrive. In essence, Microsoft will automatically move contacts, text messages, calendar items and photos to Windows Live SkyDrive on Aug. 7, 2011. It will be up to users to move everything else before that date. So, users will have to move their own items such as documents, videos, music, tasks and favorite URLs or they won't be available.
In its FAQ as part of the announcement, Microsoft indicates that users can request physical media (DVD or CD) with their data if they can't move those files themselves. That offer will be available until Oct. 5, 2012.
Microsoft plans to shut down My Phone automatic backups on Aug. 7, 2011 and it plans to close the My Phone Web site on Oct. 6, 2011.
Microsoft provides additional information for Windows Mobile users at this Microsoft Answers Forum page.
SkyDrive 'Mango' Benefits
Microsoft offers free document and media file storage space on its Internet cloud-based Windows Live SkyDrive of up to 25 GB for each user. The service enables syncing for mail, contacts and calendar. Those using Windows Live SkyDrive with Windows Phone 7 and waiting for the so-called "Mango" update coming this fall will be seeing some improvements when using SkyDrive, according to Microsoft.
Users will be able to share SkyDrive-stored photos via e-mail, Microsoft Messenger (with Facebook) or text, according to a recent Microsoft blog post. In addition, users will be able to add captions to video stored on SkyDrive and share those videos with others. The same folder structure used in SkyDrive will also be available on the Windows Phone 7 Mango-based smartphone, Microsoft announced. In addition, users can search using the Windows Phone 7's Office hub to quickly find documents stored on Windows Live SkyDrive.
