Windows Phone is dead; died with Microsoft ending support for Windows Phone 8.1

Microsoft has been forced to drop a mantra it tried selling in vain for a while; mobile-first, cloud-first. The mobile space has proved to be a too-tough-a-nut to crack for the Redmond, tech giant. Windows Phone market share accounts for less than 0.4% of the market, and it is still losing momentum.

Google with its Android has a firm grip of mobile space, with Apple being left just decent enough scraps to feed on with its high-end-priced iOS devices. The fact that the death of Windows Phone is imminent is now clearer than ever. Microsoft has stopped support for Windows Phone 8.1; three years after the company launched it.

Windows Phone was dead a long time ago; Microsoft dropping support for Windows Phone 8.1 is just but hitting of the last nails on its coffin. AdDuplex stats show that 80% of Windows-powered phones are still powered by Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 8, or Windows Phone 8.1. Going forwards, millions of Windows Phone will no longer be supported, as just about 20% of the phones run the latest Windows 10 Mobile OS.

Microsoft ending support – what it means to Windows Phone users

As Microsoft ends support for Windows Phone 8.1, that means only a handful (20%) of Windows-powered devices will get security patches and features updates. That automatically set users on the path of having their privacy and security compromised as hacker discover zero-day vulnerabilities on the mobile OS.

If you own a Windows Phone (one not running Windows 10 Mobile), it is highly recommended you get a new phone. It is time you start shopping around for a new Android or iOS mobile phone.

Microsoft doesn’t seem all that thrilled neither with Windows 10 Mobile

Although Microsoft still supports Windows 10 Mobile, it is not exactly clear what kind of support. The company did not push out any new feature updates with its recent Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update. Even in the next Windows 10 Fall Creators Update for PCs, there is hardly any news that Windows Phones will be getting any feature update.

Microsoft appears to be more concerned with building cross-device and cloud powered technologies that run on virtually all platforms. This strategy can be interpreted to be supporting the growth of iOS and Android devices.