Update: Since this article went live, LinkedIn sent out a second email to say that Windows Phone users will be unaffected by their decision to shut down older app versions.
Sent out to Dennis Bednarz and others on Twitter, LinkedIn clarified that Windows Phone versions of their app won't be closed:
Seems like LinkedIn is not dead on Windows Phones yet @DthorpL pic.twitter.com/NnAmyBqN8d
— Dennis Bednarz (@DennisBednarz) 10 January 2017
Still, hopefully Microsoft is working on a more feature-rich UWP version of their LinkedIn service. We'll just have to wait and see!
Original article:
It's likely been a long time coming given the lack of updates, but the LinkedIn app for Windows Phone is officially set to be retired on January 15. LinkedIn has started alerting those who use the app via email without actually mentioning Windows Phone by name. Instead, LinkedIn says it is retiring "older versions" of its apps, and recommends that users switch to either the Android or iOS app.
From the email:
At the end of 2015 we launched a new version of our mobile and tablet app, bringing you everything you love about LinkedIn into a simplified, smarter and more intuitive experience.
It looks like you have used the older version of our app in the last few months and we wanted to let you know that we will no longer be supporting this older version after January 15, 2017. We hope that you'll consider upgrading to our new app, which is available on the following mobile operating systems:
- iOS8 and higher (iPhone 5 and above)
- Android Ice Cream Sandwich MR1 (4.0.3/API level 15)
Ahead of January 15, LinkedIn says you should start seeing pop-ups asking you to upgrade to its newer apps. This leaves Windows Phone users in a bit of a pickle because, despite the fact that LinkedIn is now under Microsoft's purview following its $26.2 billion acquisition in December, there doesn't appear to be a new Windows app in sight for the moment. That doesn't mean Microsoft isn't working on something, but we haven't heard word of a UWP app or anything yet.
Until a potential replacement surfaces, you'll be best served by using LinkedIn's mobile site if you're using a Windows Phone once the app stops working.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Reader comments
[Update] LinkedIn for Windows phones won't be retired after all
Pages
The Hp elite x3 int the picture though! :'( :'( :'(
<3
btw the app on windows10 mobile is terrible.... so we are just waiting for the new app
Waiting for apologies....
There will not be any. Instead you will see complaints about the current app that will obviously be replaced.
When I first read the story, I asked myself, I said SELF why would Microsoft close an App for a company they just purchased, After laughing and a sharp slap side the head, Self said, think fool, it's Microsoft. So never mind., It is Microsoft.
Still wish we would have had a UWP confirmation but I guess this is better than the app been completely retired.
That's even 'funnier' than it was yesterday.
While 'old' versions of LI app for the other 2 platforms perform well, the W10M users have a really bad written app, and no one care about that. '' Ohh, but they care about now ''. No, they don't. They just want us to relax and forget about this article that put some light on that. They even didn't care properly about the Facebook app, that took ages to be available in reasonable conditions.
Wow, not even Windows support their own app. Sad day for Windows Phone Users.
But wait, we now have decided to keep the app on Windows phone platform but there will be no update.
But wait wait, we will make the iOS & Android version look really great!
But wait, wait, wait, we are going to make a glorious change on how you use your smartphone, it will change you forever!
...just getting tired of waiting...
My guess: They backtracked due to the backlash. If they had not meant to retire the wp version they would have mentioned it there in their list of options. Also, what are they retiring then, the blackberry version?
My reaction to this was: LinkedIn is part of Microsoft now. Relax..
The app is not being retired, it was a mistake sending this out as it was only meant for people on older versions of the OS. Chill everyone. Everyone that has used that app on Windows Phone and W10m should have received the updated email by now. Chill out and move on!!!
Hell to the yes
What I don't understand is who in their right mind would even think of axing an app without giving the users a new version to ensure an uninterrupted service. Microsoft has no respect for their fans and users. And sending sending these two emails is a living proof that Microsoft is a total mess.
I hope it will get updated. On my 950 and before that on my 1520 getting to the app was difficult. I would cluck on a link in linked in and it would me to the mobile site and tell me I needed to download an app in the store and thinking there was an update id try to download it from the store and the store would show no update but the app was installed. It's easier to use on the PC
Needs an update to uwp anyway. No loss, no gain.
Is that supposed to be comforting? basically they just said keep the crap with you, we anyways wont bother to update it.
Unfuckenbeleivable
"We'll just have to wait and see!"
Waiting surely is something we are used to with Microsoft.
MS looks like contemplating on mass layout again, this time LinkedIn. That's the impression I get.
Can there be ONE DAY where an article isn't published that makes me feel like a moron for supporting this platform? That people would even have to worry an MS-owned business would kill its app is a sign of how bad this mobile venture currently is.
Could there be ONE DAY where users here don't fall off the deep end with every news they see?
The current LinkedIn app is a bad joke. It may serve as negative example of how apps should not be done. In that sense it is important to keep it: For educational purposes for those who want to write other useless and non-functional apps.
The app should include a disclaimer: We completely forgot that we had an app for Windows until we threatened to take it down. Don't expect updates. We are only leaving it in the store because Microsoft paid $26 billion dollars to acquire the whole company.
Hahahaha right
As a premier LinkedIn member, I can say that their app is more like a slap in the face. Their service has been useful to me but their complete disregard for Windows users has made my patronage increasingly difficult to justify.
Let's wait and see what Microsoft has in store. The chances of a UWP app is very likely.
I'm sure it is. 😀
Marketing and PR around WM 10 (and most things Microsoft) is embarassingly bad. They never communicate effectively.
Yeah communication suck with them
Yeah, and you posted it thrice.
Marketing and PR around WM 10 (and most things Microsoft) is embarassingly bad. They never communicate effectively.
Marketing and PR around WM 10 (and most things Microsoft) is embarassingly bad. They never communicate effectively.
Soooo when are we getting the UWP app?
Translation:
We're shutting down our older apps but not for Windows phone because we won't be bothering with a new one. So you can keep that old piece of crap that wasn't even up to par the last time it was updated... a long time ago.
I am very glad that Microsoft will be keeping the LinkedIn app and improving it for the future.
Why no app for Surface though? C'mon, get your sh*t together.
I agree with this comment
Why would you need an app on a laptop? You have the full website.
It should be a PREMIERE app on Windows 10/M.
True
To be fare... the LinkedIn app on ios and Android are garbage. I know as I use it daily on my iPad and Android phone. Never used it however on my Nokia 1520 though. The Web site is better in every single way. Not everything needs to be friggin mobile.
It's trash on them all then if that's the case
Wow
Several of the most useful apps that I used to use on WP8.1 and WP10 have one by one fallen over and stopped working and been retired. MS has made a total dogs dinner of the app availability issue for W10 mobile. It almost feels like they are actively trying to shunt loyal users from the mobile platform. Well, I'm getting the not to subtle hint. You don't want me on your platform anymore...
I've just received a follow-up e-mail about this;
Correction to our email about older versions of the LinkedIn app
Hi XXX,
This morning you received an email to let you know that older versions of the LinkedIn app are being retired. The good news is that users of a Windows phone will not be affected and since our records show that you are accessing LinkedIn through the Windows version of the app, it was our mistake to include you in the earlier email. Older versions of the LinkedIn app on your Windows phone will continue to work normally.
Please accept our apology for the confusion.
The LinkedIn Team
-edit- obviously I wasn't the only one who got it, sorry for failing to scroll down to see if anyone else had also posted it..
LinkedIn just sent an email to Windows Phone users using the current version of the app and have said that it is still supported.
------
Hi Xxxx,
This morning you received an email to let you know that older versions of the LinkedIn app are being retired. The good news is that users of a Windows phone will not be affected and since our records show that you are accessing LinkedIn through the Windows version of the app, it was our mistake to include you in the earlier email. Older versions of the LinkedIn app on your Windows phone will continue to work normally.
Please accept our apology for the confusion.
The LinkedIn Team
-----
Man I wish there was an option to delete a comment; if I could, I'd delete my comment. I just hate when people don't look to see if others have already posted what they wanted to say :-).
Can I put the pistol back in the drawer then?
And the pitchfork?
And also the torch?
Leave them out for other apps...
This is hilarious!!
So... I just got an email from Linked In saying the Windows Phone app wasn't included and it only applied to iOS and Android.
Yep just got the apology email too lol
Got both emails - now they need to fix the poor app!
Just received an updated email (which I sent to Windows central tips)... Windows phone app actually will NOT be retired lol. Microsoft get it together
Looks like MS is keeping the Windows Phone app running. Just got this email.
Hi Ryan,
This morning you received an email to let you know that older versions of the LinkedIn app are being retired. The good news is that users of a Windows phone will not be affected and since our records show that you are accessing LinkedIn through the Windows version of the app, it was our mistake to include you in the earlier email. Older versions of the LinkedIn app on your Windows phone will continue to work normally.
Please accept our apology for the confusion.
The LinkedIn Team
"recommends that users switch to either the Android or iOS app." WTF!
MS, did you approve of this?
Here is something LinkedIn people said some months ago https://twitter.com/LinkedInHelp/status/769104153067020289
"(...) Until a potential replacement surfaces, you'll be best served by using LinkedIn's mobile site if you're using a Windows Phone once the app stops working " Why nobody try to get an answer from Microsoft about a new version of the app (ported or not) ? It would not take so long to be done. Much more positive than dig more and more the hole of obsolescence (app by app, distraction by distraction, excuse by excuse, as they are doing). They could be more transparent. Btw, the version they suggest for iOS and Android app for LI are very old (but still functional)... how come we still didn't had a better version, since mid of last year, or even end of 2015 ?
I received this email and couldn't believe it... some huge moron decided to send such text. It translates to following: LinkedIn is a Microsoft company that now suggest that existing Windows Phone/10 Mobile users should "upgrade"/switch to Android or iOS in order to keep using their mobile app...wtf?!?
I keep saying that by the end of 2017 the only apps left in the app store will be excel, word, power point, OneNote , OneDrive, skype preview and a few others, all from MS and the OS itself
And life will go by just as fine. I will still be able to call my relatives and friends, make photos of my nights out, eat with fork and flush the toilet. Sure I won't be able to swap my face with an orangutan and play it as music on my iSuitcase, but I'm currently rank those needs of mine pretty low. ;)
Who cares. Very very bad app anyway. Best thing to retire it. Whatever 🙄 happens, happens. WM still the only choice.
Didn't Microsoft buy Linkedin?? Once again WP users get left out by Microsoft.
Yep
buy = ruin that is M$ does these days. Everybody were expecting a new updated from LinkedIn since M$ purchased the social site. They may launch new app but it will be as disgusting as new facebook.
Is anyone able to use new FB app for windows 10 ?
FB app works brilliantly on 950xl, now one of the smoothest and feature rich apps,.sad.to say but true
M$ ? In 2017? Maybe goog$e or app$e...
Well, delete!
This company make me mad..
First, Microsoft has committed to allow LinkedIn to operate independently. Over time, collaborative projects will organically lead to improved support for Windows. In the meantime, LinkedIn support for Cortana will continue to expand and grow.
Secondly, the LinkedIn app for Windows Phone was abandoned some time ago. Pulling it from the marketplace is a good thing because the end user experience is horrible. It's presence in the store does very little to bolster Windows on mobile and it could actually have the opposite effect.
Lastly, there is a very good chance that the timing for this announcement was purely coincidental but it could be fortuitous for users of the platform. This is a face palm moment for LinkedIn NOT Microsoft. Heavy handed micromanagement is NOT the way to work with a recent acquisition.
Microsoft's hands off approach allows the two organizations to organically work together to strengthen their portfolio of products. If Microsoft didn't know about this ahead of time, pulling the app from the store is a shot across the bow. That will force them to add it to a meeting agenda. If they left it as is, it would have taken more time for that to happen.
I don't know why people on this site are so negative. So many pile on, blame Microsoft with dramatic generalizations and then threaten to leave the platform. Don't make threats. Just do what makes you happy. For the love of god, do something or shut up. Microsoft is HUGE but they are made up of people like you and me. Take a breath. It could actually be a good thing.
As I read it, some people actually already did, and still keep reading Phone 📱 section of Windows Central. They love ❤ doing this. This is what actually makes them happy 😊, not the switching. And even they did, they need to come back for self-assuredness.
If true, those people really need a hobby.
Wow.....the 950 will be my last Windows Phone. I'm tired of opening up the store and seeing the same apps in the front page for months.
That is called, addiction. It is best served on iOS. :)
I just can't help but laugh at this. The burning continues! First the Lumia 900 missing out on Apollo literally two months after it's release (smartphone beta it was!!!), then the promise of WP8 devices not having to go through that same reboot (hello Lumia 920 owners and the other WP owners of that era). It's so ridiculous what Microsoft does to it's loyal users. You listen to podcasts, like Windows Weekly, gives you hope, espcially when the CMO is on there taking about how much they listen, but in reality, it's business. You're just a number. I'm glad I went with Apple, feel like they at least have a vision they follow even if it means ******* off a few people, it usually turns out well in the end for the consumer.
Numbers do matter in business decision makings.
I am a real fan of everything Microsoft, but even I have switched to Android since Jan 2 of this year
It looks awful, and "shouty" and I hate the esthetics but every app imaginable is available, including a terrific LinkedIn one... At least compared to the WM version.
So sad this...
Shameful.
Microsoft should put pressure on the company that owns LinkedIn to support Windowsphone.
That means putting pressure on Microsoft!
Folks, I get the sentiment, but I don't think the deal has actually closed yet. This was done by LinkedIn, not MS. Until the actual close MS can not direct LinkedIn in anyway whatsover. The SEC calls it "gun jumping". I have some experience with this as my company just acquired another company and we had to sit on our hands until the ACTUAL close.
Just bought an Android tablet on Amazon for my kid and other than all the phone apps you can get it made me wish I bought a Windows tablet. The app model is fading, most people don't even use the apps they have. I'll stick with sprite superior UI and UX, and services I actually use than buy an Android phone to get the LinkedIn app.
Actually I've never seen Microsoft users mentioned in any of the e-mails. Probably communication templates still mention only these two platforms. But even if it's true, the reason there would be no app could be based on two things. 1. I use Windows Mobile 📱, and still don't care. I pretty much liked the LinkedIn app, but can perfectly live by only visiting it on web. 2 if Microsoft plans a full Contact integration by default as in the case of Skype and messaging, then why on earth would I need the app, when I could just visit the website?
One more comment about how boneheaded MS is about their marketing sometimes. Way back when Cortana was announced, I walked into my local MS store. The entire store was plastered with Cortana logos and ads. Great I thought, some push behind their new feature. However here is the face palm moment. NONE of the phones in the store actually had Cortana installed on them. A MS rep showed me Cortana on her personal phone, and the only reason she had it was, that she was on the Windows Insider Program. So a customer walking in, and seeing this cool new feature could not walk out of the store having a purchased a phone with Cortana installed on it, or even ever, since some of the models they were selling at the time didn't get the update or had to wait a LONG time for it.
They probably will create a UWP app since they own LinkedIn, but it certainly isn't guaranteed. Sure the website works fine on my Windows phones (Lumia 640 and 929) but the app works better on my Nexus 5X and iPhone 6S. This tells me that the people actually making the decisions at Microsoft aren't using Windows Mobile - if they did, you better believe there would be a functional app available. My friend works at MS - I should ask him how many people actually use Windows Phones there...when you won't eat your own dogfood the writing is on the wall. If you don't live with the OS all day what incentive is there to improve the environment?
My Palm Pre 2 and Blackberry Z30 are in my museum (office drawer) so I guess it's time to sell them along with my 929 (it's in perfect condition since I only used it several times for app testing). I'll hang on to the 640 for now since I picked it up for $30 and unlocked it for free using the AT&T website (the law now requires them to unlock the phones regardless of usage or payment plan - I never had an account with them). I do enjoy using the cheap Windows phones as music players since they have microSD slots and FM capabilities. I popped in my ProjectFi SIM and can browse the web with it too.
"This tells me that the people actually making the decisions at Microsoft aren't using Windows Mobile - if they did, you better believe there would be a functional app available. My friend works at MS - I should ask him how many people actually use Windows Phones there...when you won't eat your own dogfood the writing is on the wall. If you don't live with the OS all day what incentive is there to improve the environment?"
This a million times. If Nadella were actually using it, if execs and engineers were actually using it, they would endeavor to make sure it worked right. If the CEO said, "Hey, I can't get my LinkedIn app to work!", maybe something would happen. But I'm sure he's on iOS, so he doesn't care.
It would be like the CEO of Ford only driving Cadillacs. No brand loyalty at the top, don't expect consumers or employees to follow suit.
Zr2s10, I said the exact same thing 7 months ago when I ditched my windows mobile devices and went to apple. Nothing MS mobile etc coming to my household again. Nokia android flagship is probably going to be my next phone. Depending on whether they pull a 1020 successor out.....MS obviously did not have the brains to pull one off!
I run a Galaxy S5A ...typically. But my first smartphone was a Samsung Focus. I really liked it, but had issues with certain things, and when we switched to Verizon, we went with S3's, since their WP offerings were weak. We switched back to AT&T, and kept with Androids, because WP8 still had issues, and only good phone was a phablet. I would've gotten a 1020, but I knew they weren't getting W10. I have a 640 I bought for "playing" with the new OS, and sentimental reasons, lol. It was $40, and I wanted to see how W10M was, and hopefully eventually switch back. Even insider builds were more stable than my Galaxy, but there are still shortcomings, and I'm on the fence about jumping to a Lumia 950. My phone is paid off, so I could drop my insurance, and get a 950 for the same cost per month, since they're so cheap right now. And my Galaxy still "works", so I could have a backup, and continue to be fickle, but have a better W10 to play with than a $40 one, lol. A better camera goes a long way...
Ok here is what I don't get... Sure MS has owned LinkedIn for about a month now, but doesn't MS have that iOS bridge still running? Therefore how hard would it have been for them to tell LinkedIn to "bridge" the iOS app over to Windows Mobile while they work on a proper UWP app? Delay the shutoff for a month or two, it's not like this would have cost them anything. Instead they kill the app, do not announce a replacement and just gather all of the negative publicity about how WM is dead.
BTW does anyone know what ever happend to Joe Belifore? He was the one face for Windows Phone at Microsoft. I'm not even sure who owns it now. I think it falls under Panos, but so does all hardware, but who is actually in charge of just Mobile? I know Joe left on a extended leave, that should have been a sign...
Finally if I were HP I would be pissed at MS for crap like this. SnapChat while important is not THAT important to business users, but LinkedIn? One could make a good argument that alot of professionals need that app.
"Doesn't MS have that iOS bridge still running?" Good question. This bridge seems like it's about as dead as the Android one that got axed. And Microsoft has yet to bring a single app to Windows with this bridge. Why would they start now?
Joe is back at Microsoft working on some shell related stuff. https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/85815/joe-belfiore-returns-microsoft-will-drive-windows-10-consumer-shell-initiatives
This is just embarrassing
The decision to retire this substandard app wasn't made yesterday but months back, prior to Microsoft acquiring the company. As yet the process of handing over the running of day to day operations is only in its infancy and I doubt very much this decision was made by MS management.
How the hell can they allow this since they OWN the facking service?
The same way they own Swiftkey and don't use it or offer it on W10M. They don't care.
Yep true
What is Swiftkey? Serious question.
an awesome keyboard for mobile that allows swipe typing etc. Very cool. I use it on my IOS devices. Back to business myspace, MS is going to shut it down soon.....
A keyboard for Android and iOS. It's been one of the most popular keyboards for Android since it was released around 2010.
A very crummy replacement keyboard app for your phone.
As long as "your phone" is an Android or Apple device. But it's not crummy. And MS owns it now, but they don't use it in their own devices. Or offer it as an option.
I am considering a Lumia 950, purely because I will have full Cortana integration. I don't like Google Now on my S5A, Samsung phones are great for about a year, then turn to crap...or catch on fire. And I can't get Cortana to be default for EVERYTHING. Main reason I want to switch.
An app from a company owned by MS being dropped from W10, with no replacement in sight? Main reason I don't want to switch.
You can say that it's because it's a new aquisition, but judging by their support for their own platform, that's hard to accept. The only reason Cortana is better on W10M is because Android won't allow it to take over completely. Every other MS product is better on Android than it is on W10M. That's unacceptable. The most frustrating thing about MS failing at W10M, is that it's just stupid stupid crap, that they don't seem to get. They focus on "innovation", while completely ignoring the basics. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON that their W10M apps can't have feature parity with Android/Apple, when they write the code for BOTH!
And to be clear, I don't give a RA about LinkedIn, it's the principle of the thing...
Is this a LinkedIn email without Microsoft authorization?!
Just because MS own Linkedin is no guarantee of an updated app. Let's face it, Microsoft have recently created a hell of an annoying habit of developing for rival platforms without even considering supporting its own mobile platform.
Its kind of insulting the way MS have treated us. Android and Apple users must be laughing their heads off at we loyal W10M users. They must think we're total retards. If Microsoft won't support W10M and they can't even get the companies they own to support it we're properly dead in the water.
Microsoft owe us an apology. They've driven us into a brick wall
MS may as well just shoot us W10M fans in the head and bury us under a mountain of well supported Android and Apple devices
MS would be burying W10M fans n WC will still keep churning out articles to support MS actions by projecting crazy hypothetical scenarios.
Hand me that pistol please...i can't deal with my WP becoming more useless every freakin' day in the world of apps!
I'm really considering a move to Android now. The main thing holding me back is I just got a Mozo wood back for my 950.
:-D B-)
Waiting for the inevitable UWP app then. Though it would be nice if they released it before they retired the old one.
Yes and avoid all this negative publicity. It is why many avid Window Mobile owners are leaving. Microsoft is actiong like a chicken with it's head cut off more than ever with mobile. The narrative is always wait the next great thing is just around the corner. Many of us who have been invested since Phone7 have lost hope and are moving on. I understand for Microsoft mobile has not lived up to their expectations but, this app support is pure example of why. They are erratic, often direction changing, with a lack of continuous support on their part that has created their self-fulfilling issue. I no longer believe that shiny, mobile OS and device is around the corner and Microsoft's own actions this past 9 months have only made it easier for me to come to grips that it is true. It is not Cloud first, Mobile first. It is Cloud first, everybody but Microsoft mobile first.
The irony that it's now owned by Microsoft xD
Glad I'm on Android now. BTW Microsoft services on Android are awesome, this sounds crazy but if Microsoft could make a partnerships with some OEMs/carriers to have their services installed by default on some Android devices this could be a big win for Microsoft as more people would subscribe to Office 365, Groove music, etc.
Hey Dan! You dropped your Windows phone in the snow!
Wow, room for another "web wrapper" app I guess... Pffffftttt.
Wow, room for another "web wrapper" app I guess... Pffffftttt.
I hope we will soon see a new UWP app that actually works. The current version of LinkedIn on Windows Phone is a disaster...
$26.2 billion spent on LinkedIn but not enough money to write a UWP replacement for Windows phones, tablets, and PCs ?!
What's more, you have a team working under Microsoft sending e-mails to their customers running Windows Mobile telling them they "hope" they switch to iOS or Android ?!
In any properly managed company, an employee contacting customers to tell them to switch to competitors would be fired on the spot, if not sued for it!
Well, Microsoft's income doesn't come from Windows Mobile hardware, they're probably on red numbers today so if I were the Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft I wouldn't spend money on a platform that doesn't have any interest on developers. It would be time to think in Plan C, and that is to make an Android fork, and if that is the way to go, users wouldn't have the app gap issue they have today.
BTW does anybody have any news on iOS Bridge? Is it being cancelled?
It's NOT Windows Mobile; it's just Windows, period. They're preaching a unified platform, so they should practice it...!
Well considering other things... Its probably to make space for UWP app. I wouldn't worry too much. Amazon did this as well as others. Even tho Amazon still managed to take a step backwards at the same time. Since they made UWP app they did it with as little development as possible lmao. W.e. I'm not worried. I've waited this long and I'm gona keep waiting.
Eh, it was a total junk sh*t app the whole time anyway.
I love how the answer for everything now is "use the mobile site instead" because when "apps" started being a thing back in 2010, I thought it was a useless and dumb idea. That mobile sites should just be optimized better. Funny how things come full circle so quickly.
It's terrible. When I switched from BlackBerry 10 to Windows 10 Mobile a couple months ago, this was one of the surprises for how bad it was. The BB10 one was fantastic with the Hub integration and Contacts sync (it's also being retired now). It was similarly never updated, but continued to work very well. My LinkedIn usage has gone down significantly on Windows 10 Mobile.
They probably will put out a UWP app eventually, but I wouldn't expect any time soon or they would have said that as part of the announcement.
What's LinkedIn? 😛
Dunno, mobile site of LinkedIn is perfectly fine and functional for me. Don't care that much about the app.
It's not that the mobile ability of the site is bad. It is this narrative of Microsoft not supporting their mobile OS with their own properties. It is not like a difficult job to have some one spend one day a every month looking at the catalog of their own apps, contact the management and development teams for that product and see where they are in their supporting their mobile OS. Thus provide reports to make sure upper management responsible for mobile is in the know of possible issues like this. This is dropping the ball. And as I said it has become a narrative that breeds bad PR (not all PR is good!)
This one app failure is systemic of Microsoft as whole with mobile. One step forward every few months but, five steps back during that same time. Even if they only officially owned the company for a few weeks it should been part of the Microsoft managements goal to go over things like this and make sure they didn't have am incident like this happen. At least, not without making sure a future version was announced at the same time this was retired. I have been on the cusp of leaving the ecosystem (which I have been part of since WinPhone7) and this action is an example of why I will leave when the S8 comes out. They don't support their own properties for mobile. Why would a third party seeing Microsoft's own action towards their own mobile OS be willing to support it now or in the future. You have to at the very least fully support you own mobile product at every level and not treat it as the ugly step child.
"LinkedIn says it is retiring "older versions" of its apps, and recommends that users switch to either the Android or iOS app instead."
Seriously? MS owns LinkedIn. So it is really that bad that MS is actually telling people to switch from Windows Mobile to iOS or Android? SMH
Hate to admit it, but might have to leave for an IPhone. This app drain is getting too big, even for a business only phone guy like me.
Same here man, seem Microsoft doesn't care anymore. To me this is just bullshit, despite lack of features and updates, I use the app to send messages and interact now it's veen taking away from me. I'm always on the move and need an app. Windows 10 on Mobiles is becoming useless and redundant for professionals. This is not acceptable.
Agreed, at this point I'm just waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S8 to get announced, if nothing significant has changed in WM10 then I'm gone.
I have a ip6s and its awesome. All MS services work perfectly, actually better than windows 10 mobile when I was on it. I have windows 10 on my computers, IOS on my mobile devices..(ipad air 2 and IPhone 6s). I do not like the ipad pro and iPhone 7, both give me nothing extra that I don't have now. But I will never, ever use OSX again......it's so counterproductive it's hilarious that they even try to tout it's better than windows.
They are too busy refining the iOS and Android APPs.
Why would they refine apps for a dead platform?
Windows Mobile is to be geared toward Enterprise clients and yet the Linkedin app is killed....say whaaaat?
Yeah exactly, wasn't the HP Elite X3 aimed at business users and only recently launched, yet this is saying buy another phone to business users. Really Microsoft??
Well, I'm going to prepare a slice of bread with a lot of NUTELLA.
What a silly "joke", not even funny.
If they don't return with a UWP app shortly, I'd be pretty much pissed off... Why? I don't use it at all, but given they're a Microsoft company now, they MUST support Windows, even on mobile... Same for Beam, that I actually use... I love you Microsoft, I'm still holding on, and I'm such a big fan. But things like this make me sad... :( Don't recommend me switching to android or iOS, and don't treat your own OS like a second class citizen... Please... Just get your sh*t together...
Huge Microsoft fan myself and I've been trying very hard to stay the course but my parade keeps getting rained on and more and more I'm wondering if I need to consider an umberella.
I am a huge fan myself and felt the same way you do. Thing is as a MS fan you are a fan of the largest software company in the world. I just got an iphone 7 plus after having nothing but Windows Phones since 2009 and my life is stll the same. MS is literalyl everywhere and you can still be fan using whatver device you wish. In fact i feel like MS doesn't even deserve me to buy another WP.
I got an iPad Air 2 to try iOS out, but it looks like i don't like it. It's just not fun to use for me, and I don't feel at home. And as of android, I've had enough of it, because I used it for three years before switching to Windows in October 2015. I don't trust google anymore, and think the OS is boring as hell... And yeah, it feels strange as well now. So if Windows on phones dies, what should I use? Blackberry or Symbian? xDDD
Using a tablet is not the same as using a phone everyday and doing phone stuff like texting, calling, emails and stuff. I say try out an Iphone for day to day use. I prefer iOS to the extent that its just hardware. you dont have to and are not required to use any of their services. For example I need a gmal account to use an Android and i havent had a gmail in almost 8 years. I use my MS Account email as my Apple ID. I see it just as a device to shuttle my services and i am not tied down to anything.
You can create a Google account without Gmail using your MS account email.
MS sucks big time. How often do we need to get kicked in the balls before we accept that MS does not give a crap about its loyal users. I can't believe I still support windows mobile, MS sure as hell does not.
Personally, I don't really care about Microsoft. I'm not using a Windows phone because of company loyalty. I use a Windows phone because I like the UI better than the alternatives.
iTunes scr*wed up my music collection big time back in the iPod days, and I've never liked their UI anyway, so Apple is a no go.
Android is simply too much of a mess for my taste, and my current work phone (a Huawei P9 Lite) is annoying me to no end.
The app situation is annoying, sure, but I really only miss a few, and most of these work just fine on their respective mobile websites...
If a UWP is coming then they should state this, and not kill the existing app until a uwp upgrade is available.
Exactly this. Microsoft really need to learn damage control.
Yep, this is just dumb.
Very very dumb indeed.
Totally agree.
Windows Mobile is a joke!
Certainly turning out that way. I've been a 100% Window mobile only user since 2003 continuously and this is by far the worse things have ever been. Has me missing the old days on XDA when I was creating custom images and .cab files for WM v5 lol.
It turned out that way a couple years ago when WP7 was re-released as WP8 and flopped again. Now it is just sad. Microsoft needs to end it.
Ironic, isn't it?
Sort of speaks to lack of commitment to WP from MSFT, or the lack of communication between MSFT and LinkedIn. Either way it's a poor message to send.
Wait, Microsoft own LinkedIn and they are dropping support? Wtf?
I was thinking the same thing
Awesome news, now every app available on windows phone should follow the foot steps of Microsoft.
Not surprising!
"and recommends that users switch to either the Android or iOS app instead."
I love how companies say this as if switching to the Android or iOS versions is as simple as just downloading and installing. They might as well be salespeople for those platforms.
I've had companies give me a response like that. Support would just say "all you need is a iPhone or Android phone" as if all people just have one sitting around or can go get one. Not everyone has the money and I met a fair number of Windows Phone owners that had one because they were cheap, reliable, and fast. Kind of puts them in a bind.
It's a ridiculous suggestion even for those that can afford an iPhone or Android. The few of us left on WM are here for a reason. If I wanted iOS or Android, I'd have one by now.
Exactly.
It isn't ridiculous when nearly everyone has an Android or iPhone. What is ridiculous is buying something that is completely irrelevant and then expecting people to cater to you.
Spot on.
I don't think anyone even knows there are Microsoft phones, other than the windows fanboys.
They don't, because my cousin saw my phone and said wow I didn't know Microsoft made or had a phone. Smh!
My guess is that the message is a blanket statement made for all versions of the app. (hence the link for both Android and iOS) This leaves the Windows version out as there was no link to display. So technically, they're not saying to switch.
So a Microsoft owned company is asking users to switch to Apple or Android... WTF.... No thanks.
Welcome to beng a Mac or Linux user. Sucks, doesn't it?
Hahahaha lmao!! Yeah they do feel like this huh
I'm guessing a new universal app is coming? Hopefully?
News like this make me sad. The app was really poor to begin with but they did not update it and there is no word of a UWA either! What happens to all the people who still use it with WP8/8.1?
buy a new phone...
Switch to android/iOS. It's what I did and never been happier
iOS is out of the question, and my Android work phone (Huawei P9 Lite) sucks big time. I'll take a mobile website any day... :-)
Funny. I figured it was retired about 2 years ago when nearly every feature stopped working. I still find it funny that with Microsoft essentially owning LinkedIn that support for Windows in general is so horrible.
You realize that MS has only owned them for like a month, right?
Yes but these talks have been in the works for a long time. There is also the fact that Microsoft and LinkedIn have been supposed buddies for so long yet nothing came out of it. Or the fact that since Satya said from the beginning that Microsoft was going to make a big push in business. How much more business oriented can you get than LinkedIn.
With everything that goes into the purchasing of one company by another, I'm guessing the status of their mobile apps is near the bottom of the list. I'm willing to bet that a LI UWP app will arrive within the next year or so. At least for Win10 PC, if not Mobile. Like you said, this app was terrible anyway. Even when things were "working," it was trash. I say good riddance. There's no reason to keep that experience around.
In a way I am surprised that LinkedIn left it posted for so long considering how bad it was. I can't remember a time since the app launched that I though it was good. I remember on the day it launched that notifications were sketchy.
MS is clear, they have given up on mobile, only WC keeps twisting rumors n keeps hopes for mobile alive. windows on Arm, will open a new front for new devices but doesnt mean its coming on a phone, once Woa is realized, they will bury W10m
Just because a company is in talks to buy another out doesn't mean that they can go ahead and control their development team. Large acquisitions such as this doesn't always go smoothly at the beginning.
Companies are not allowed to work as though they have merged until they are officially merged. Anything that goes against that is technically illegal.
I agree that things are weird though given their supposedly cozy relationship prior to the merger.
This made me laugh. But actually, even though Microsoft owns LinkedIn, it should still make business decisions based on ROI. My view is that bots and mobile friendly websites will soon replace most apps anyway.
From what I have seen of bots we are still many years away from something viable. As for mobile websites, they are good for certain cases but poor for others. Speed, fidelity, and consistency is worse. I used to think mobile websites were the way but think of it this way. Mobile websites can't do direct notifications that work on all devices. Mobile websites, even responsive design, have issues with displaying content the same since each browser interprets the standards a little different. The number of browsers is too high to support them all. Since the code is not compiled beforehand there will always be a performance hit. Then if someone like Google modifies Chrome in some way you have to redesign and test your mobile website for all variants again and it likely still won't work the same on each. Compare that to designing using cross platform tools. You have Cordova and Xamarin as well as others. You design using a single IDE, make some code specific adjustments for each platform if you want specific features, share most of the code, and just test for screen sizes. The platform is consistent across all platforms and your code, unless you are doing specific optimizations, works the same across all platforms because you have one IDE and one standard. You don't have to worry what browser a person is using because it is platform based. There are only three platforms to worry about versus all the browsers.
The W3C roadmap is fairly consistent with the exception of Apple. Even then, Apple hasn't completely abandoned web standards yet. Pointer events continues to be the major sticking point for them. Standards supporting web notifications and progressive web apps have the potential to subsidize and replace many native apps. As long as developers code for feature detection, they will be in good shape but it will take some time before it is widely implemented. It isn't totally hopeless though.
Really? Then why all of the vendor-specific extensions (e.g. X-[name])? Google has been a big offender of this practice, and why folks call Chrome today "IE 6". If W3C wants to enforce standards, the web browser developers need to abandon vendor-specific extension practice for HTML5.
I couldn't agree more. Custom extensions seem to be trending down for browser vendors but developers are another matter. Webkit extensions are just an embarrassment in the modern web. Further, user agent string browser detection needs to go away but it probably won't. I actually ran into a website that popped up with an ad for a Windows 10 application the other day. When they update browser detection for ad targeting, that suggests that Windows 10 traffic is fairly high. Developers who dismiss the cumulative potential of somewhere around 500 million customers are doing so at their own peril.
I still have people who think Chrome is the greatest while I'm saying Chrome is the new IE. I have certain sites now that literally only work in Chrome. Personally I don't feel W3C can fix it even with HTML5. They have been pushing standards but each company "interprets" thr standards different. They have even made validators to determine how your HTML will work in each browser. Using a cross platform IDE though you deal with just one. To me thats the way to go for now.
In this case, fixing it is relative. The bar is set so low that they can make a big impact with minimal effort. Of course, the W3C is a committee made up of competitors so it is only natural that there will be tension and disagreements. Ultimately, feature detection is the way to go. If a browser indicates that it supports a feature, build out your site to support it. Obviously, they cannot do that in some areas but where they can, it makes alot of sense to do so. Old habits die hard I guess.
I still believe that the web is the future but for now, there is the web and then there are app warehouses running on iOS and Android. Both options are powerful and flexible but app warehouses favor the incumbency. An open web is better for competition and in turn, for consumers. If Microsoft was unable to suppress the influence of a standards committee, no one else will be able to do that either. Now that Microsoft is committed to the W3C, the outlier is Apple. Funny how things change.
That said, I don't clamor for the latest and greatest apps and users of Windows 10 shouldn't either. It will never be perceived as being on par with iOS and Android. The incumbency controls the narrative. They know that they can say that Windows doesn't have as many touch centric applications. Of course, that doesn't matter as much as it did 10 years ago but they will continue to drive the narrative for as long as they can.
Personally, I want Microsoft and LinkedIn to use modern web technology that allows them to be more agile and effective with less development overhead. As we know it, the app warehouse was developed so long ago that Apple still refers to it as the iTunes App Store. That is hilarious when you think about it. So, while you cannot disregard customer expectations, you can change the narrative through innovation.
A native app is fine but is it necessary? They may need to support them for iOS and Android but I would have a plan in place to deprecate the approach for modern platforms. Fire up progressive web apps with notifications and SSO for Edge users. They could use Windows 10 Insiders to launch a huge project to transform how we use the web. I would like to see them to do the same with Office Web. They would also be able to provide guidance to developers for how to use this technology in their own projects. Doing something like that flips the narrative and in my opinion, it is alot more interesting as well.
You need to be able to innovate and waiting for something to become a standard before implementing it and trying it out in the real world would mean nothing ever gets added. Microsoft used to do that with IE and that's how modern web development was born (when they introduced XMLHTTP with IE4).
Thw W3C is just workdgroups of browser vendor representatives and it was always too slow but now they are working much closer together. Well, everyone except Apple at least.
Absolutely but there are numerous standards that are in various phases of implementation. As long as the committee shows support from most of the committee, it only stands to reason that Microsoft would push that as much as they can. If Bing is able to roll out experimental features to targeted clients who have signed up, there is no reason that they couldn't do the same for other Microsoft partner sites including LinkedIn. It would be interesting to see how it works out.
That about Bots and Websites is a hype, like a lot of technologies that would have changed the world but didnt. We would have only IOT 3D Devices bought with your Bitcoin money by now, from a shop in the cloud using a NoSQL database and a NodeJS backend, but that doesnt happen.
By the way, a company like MS should only care about ROI, but you forget the billions they spent in building WM10 and all of those phones and let's not talk about that half-willing "Nokia purchase", which in fact if anyone would have looked seriously at the numbers was a big waste of money except for the patents they acquired. I said that then and I say that now. But this Website doesn't tell the whole story. Anyways, your ROI statement would mean that MS wants to keep the App running while they make a new UWP App, so they dont make more negative advertisement and jeopardize their mobile strategy. But who believes in WM10 anyways now? No serious Dev, Manufacturer and not even Microsoft. Only Windowscentral and some people here.
They didn't acquire the patents. Nokia still owns them. But as part of the deal, they have a license for those patents for 10 years (or something like that).
True. I somehow thought some of them got acquired by them. Even worse now.
Windows Central doesn't even believe it. Ask Daniel.
#wtfMicrosoft
I posted this before but it got buried.
Folks, I get the sentiment, but I don't think the deal has actually closed yet. This was done by LinkedIn, not MS. Until the actual close MS can not direct LinkedIn in anyway whatsover. The SEC calls it "gun jumping". I have some experience with this as my company just acquired another company and we had to sit on our hands until the ACTUAL close.
"I don't think the deal has actually closed yet."
Yes, it has. It closed in Decmeber: http://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-closes-acquisition-of-linkedin-1481215151
lol.... That's all I can do anymore..
Pages