Later this month Microsoft is gradually discontinuing support, and closing down applications on Windows Phone platform. These Applications will continue to be developed and updated on both iOS and Android, but not their own native OS. It seems OWA (Outlook Web App) that runs on iOS and Android has also been discontinued (April 2018) on all platforms. Users will be encouraged to use the “award winning”, dedicated Outlook app instead.
Effective May 20, 2018, the Windows Phone apps for Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, and Yammer will be retired. Starting on that date, these apps will no longer be available for download from Microsoft Store, and Microsoft will no longer support them. –Microsoft drops support for Teams, Yammer, and Skype for Business apps as of next month, by PCAuthority.com staff writer, April 26, 2018
Some of their more supported applications, such as Teams, Skype and Yammer, will no longer be updated (set. May 20, 2018) on the Windows Mobile OS, possibly soon non-operational.
“Outlook for iOS and Android has an architecture fully powered by the Microsoft Cloud and has 4.5+ star ratings in the app stores,” Eugenie Burrage, one of Microsoft’s product marketers explained to the community. “And as we streamline our mobile portfolio, we’ll be able to further focus our efforts to deliver on our promise of the best-in-class, enterprise-grade mail, calendar and search experience and the best way to experience Office 365 features on a mobile device with Outlook.”
Microsoft’s OWA apps were designed to offer extra functionality compared to the mobile browser iterations of Outlook, such as such as push notifications, syncing of contacts, voice-activated actions, but were superseded by the much richer standalone Outlook apps that offer the same functionality as the desktop versions of Outlook, just on a smaller screen. –Microsoft is killing off its Outlook Web App for Android and iOS, by PCAuthority.com staff writer, March 12, 2018
I thought the idea was to have a single platform for desktop, tablet and phone? This definitely seems to pulling away from this plan?
Microsoft Teams, however, will cease to work on Windows Phone entirely. According to Microsoft, “users will receive an error message when they try to connect.” In each situation, Microsoft’s advice is the same: move to a supported platform. Depending on the product, this means iOS, Android, desktop Windows, or macOS. Yammer users can still access the site through the browser. – Windows Phone is dead (for realsies) as Microsoft discontinues Skype and Yammer apps, by Matthew Hughes, April 26 2018, The Next Web
So it seems an inventory is being conducted and Microsoft is performing a well coordinated spring cleaning. Being a Microsoft fan, that uses a Mac OS, I see these as prudent moves on Microsoft’s part. Know what you do well, expand on those products and services and continue to move forward.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with me these are good moves by Microsoft? or are they conceding too much?
Users will be encouraged to use the “award winning”, dedicated Outlook app instead.
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