Microsoft's aiming for flagship Windows Phones, killing Nokia X but selling MixRadio

Microsoft is once again going through a major transition. Earlier today, expected layoffs were announced, totaling 18,000 over the next year. Although in and of itself this is important news, perhaps the renewed focus on Windows Phone in particular is even bigger.

In an internal memo obtained by the Verge, details of Microsoft's realignment of mobile products is good news for those who are fans of the Windows Phone OS. In the memo it is revealed that Asha, Series 40, and Nokia X development is being put on hold, with teams going into "maintenance mode." The goal here is to keep those devices – and customers – happy with their mobiles but over the next 18 months, those lines are being killed off in favor of Windows Phone.

Additionally, the fate of MixRadio is now up in the air as Microsoft is reportedly attempting to sell off the service to a third-party. So far there is allegedly "strong interest" from potential buyers and like the aforementioned devices, MixRadio is now in "maintenance mode" too, meaning that service is no longer being developed.

Finally, Jo Harlow, who heads up the phone business under Microsoft devices, notes in the memo that they will shift "...flagship engineering efforts towards new flagship products timed with the next release of Windows and Windows Phone," referring to the Spring 2015 'Threshold' update. In the meantime, the company is focusing on the Lumia 930, Lumia 1520 and "and other high-end products that we will be announcing very soon."

This disclosure by Harlow mirrors Stephen Elop's earlier email, which stated that the company is planning to release "great breakthrough products in alignment with major milestones ahead from both the Windows team and the Applications and Services Group." Both flagship and entry level Lumias are still being developed in Finland.

Some of this news should not be surprising, but the abandonment of the Android-based Nokia X ought to make those who question Microsoft's mobile motives pleased.

In regards to MixRadio, although the service is highly admirable and impressive, the idea of it "merging" into Xbox Music is highly implausible. Neither the software nor the backend services are interchangeable and with significant overlap, there appears to be no benefit for Microsoft in redundancy – or, pardon the pun, the mixed messages it sends to consumers who purchase Lumias.

High-end Windows Phones so far have not earned their due in terms of market share for Microsoft. Although devices like the Lumia 1520, Lumia 1020 and the newer Lumia 930 are elegant, impressive and competitive, shoppers instead opt for entry-level Lumias. Microsoft desperately needs to turn that around, especially in the United States, and it looks like Microsoft is going to pick up the torch from Nokia and aggressively brave that path. The bit about "other high-end products that we will be announcing very soon" is also provoking as Windows Phone users evidently won't have to wait long for a new crown jewel.

Source: the Verge

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

495 Comments
  • Wow, huge news! Can't wait for a new flagship :3
  • Me neither, that's why I'll probably buy an iPhone in fall.
  • Good for you.
  • Better for us.
  • Profitable for them.
  • PAMCAKES!
     
  • I suspect Microsoft has other surprises coming... regarding branding, etc. Personally, I hope they keep the "X" phone branding. It's cool... and kind of fits nicely with the Xbox services.
  • it sounds like a 13 yro xbox gamer named it...
  • unless it is cheaper version of windows phone, or else it wont be published
  • I also thought about that but I'm sure I would regret that when the new Lumia gets released! :)
  • Well if no high end WP on t-mo come the fall tea I'll switch tired of waiting
  • What?
  • Iphone was impressive in 2007, but now it's just a plain and boring device and OS. Even the experience, and aspirational lifestyle attached to the brand, at this time, is a weak argument for buying it.
  • I think I didn't make any arguments ;-) Anyway, you could say something similar about Windows Phone. It was impressive in 2010 (well, it was nice, it wasn't really impressive, I switched for the sole reason of using Windows Mobile before), but the experience with lacking features, lacking apps and lacking hardware are good arguments to not buy it.
  • Maybe you're right, this is very subjective. It's just that since I use Windows Phone (for the last six or seven months) Iphone is becoming less and less attractive for me. Matter of taste, I guess ;)
  • I agree with you. The iPhone OS is so Windows 3.1...icons on a screen. I miss some functionality with the WP, but I enjoy the engagement that the WP os employs better than what IOS or Android provide. But I also understand those who are frustrated with WP lack of functionality especially on the common features like music management.
  • i prefer iOS. as soon as you jailbreak an iphone you look at WP and say "meh". WP is the OS without personality (and file explorer)
  • "...lacking hardware..." Yet, WP has the fastest performing gaming phones (1520,930,Icon), the highest end audio features, including 3,4,5 array microphone setups (Dolby 5.1 recording even), the highest end Cameras, 41-20MP - even their 8.7MP devices outperform the iPhone 5S and other 13-16MP Cameras (A older Nokia 928 can do things with high speed motion and low light that makes iPhone and S5 users cry.)   WP devices also have NFC, wireless charging, new Motion sensors and the best quality screens available in their high end devices.  (ATT screws the users on wireless charging, not MS/Nokia) I can understand you don't like WP8 or don't care about WP8.1, but to proclaim that WP devices 'lack' in hardware is disengenious when the current devices, that are even six months old (1520) are still higher end devices than any iPhone and out perform the latest S5 and other Android devices.   (For gaming benchmarks, see Benchcore and other 3D cross platfrom test software that leverages the same calls across OpenGL ES on Android/Apple and the full DirectX on WP. )
  • Windows Phone does have the best Hardware in my opinion.... And, a lot of people give a damn❕
    ................
    The rest just don't know because MS is horrible at marketing❗❗❗❗
  • Horrible is an understatement.
  • Horrible would be building MS's marketing department up..
  • A serious understatement indeed
  • I agree marketing is terrible. I hate their commercials with that stupid Sara Bareilles song "Brave" as its "really BRAVE of you to try our products". I liked the previous ones with Jessica Alba, and Gwen Stefani BC at least they gave you an overview of their devices, apps they use, and why they use it. I feel like I have many ideas on commercials they can do. For example, they should be spotlighting apps, like Photosynth. Make a good ad for that app and release it, along with series of them angling what you can do with the device. Would be nice to see a Cortana ad released on tv and not just the web. Also, why not tout the tight integration with OneDrive and such with desktops and tablets and phones.
  • With the layoffs Microsoft is doing, I hope they fired their whole windows phone marketing dept.
  • For PC users this news is actually a stake in the heart and it's time a new OS comes up that brings back the P in PC.  (Personal Computers)   Microsoft in their last shakeup let go like 3/4ths of their computer department and with them buying Nokia out it is clear they don't give a damn about computer users and only want phone users.   Microsoft might as well call themselves a phone company.  At first I thought it was because they were catering to Xbox users only but after learning what I can I found out that they are kicking Xbox users in the teeth (glad I don't own one).   I just hope Nintendo  and Sony doesn't try to make a phone gimmick which I am sure will suck too.    You just can't do games on a phone. t least not very well no matter how much they try.    Small arcade games like Pac Man are great for a phone while you wait for you're bus or train but most games are dumbed down.   Now a days with digital downloads you no longer even own you're software but that's another issue for another time.
  • If Microsoft were smart they'd make their next OS more like the Commdore 64 which is unhackable due to it's ROM based interface and can be hooked up to any TV no need for a tower.   You would be able to turn it off without going thru the shut down sequence and members can receive discounts and deals on products. With this setup Microsoft would be able to go back to making actual computer games and complex simulator titles again if they were to do that and not be in the red since they won't need to release patches.    Does anybody remember Microsoft MidTown Madness series?
  • Well said!  MS needs to bring back the P in PC.   Remember we are the 99 percent they are part of the 1 percenters. 
  • I think it's great that you are happy with your device.
     
  • To each his phone I guess. Phone wars seem ridiculous sometimes. But hey, I'm entitled to my opinion as is everyone to theirs
  • I completely agree :-)
  • +920
  • +930 :D
  • +930
  • +Icon
  • +2020 +McLaren
  • Stop talking and buy your new iPhone already. I heard Apple made new innovations in ther upcoming phones, they are now going to be bigger. LOL! By the way, I don't think you have a WP at all.
  • You got me, I signed up in this forum in early 2012 just to troll you today.
  • Best comment ever...lol u can't say anything negative in the hive trust me people will defend wp no matter what. Likeing another product and wp is taboo and will get you stoned...virtually. XD
  • I'm sure there are those who would blindly defend WP, but you also have to realize that people who read WPC know WP well.  If you write things that are incorrect or questionable, you should expect to get "stoned".
  • @mcmc08 What are you referring to? The hardware comment? I actually didn't mean it like that. I know exactly how limited the iPhone is in some features. Those are however features I don't need, I need features like Cisco VPN to enter my work place's network. In this particular post I was comparing Windows Phone to Android. And you can disagree, all I said is that you could make a similar point about Windows Phone, not that Windows Phone is bad in any way.
  • Your comment in reference to Windows Phone was "lacking features, lacking apps and lacking hardware".  While there might be a few apps that are lacking, WP certainly doesn't lack features and hardware.  That's what I was refering to when I said, "If you write things that are incorrect or questionable, you should expect to get "stoned"". Had you originally stated you had an issue with WP because it does not support Cisco VPN, nobody would have disagreed with you because it is a fact and no "stones" would have been thrown. 
  • I am a Cisco Field Engineer and have pinged Cisco repeatedly for a mobile VPN client. Last ping was replied to, as under consideration.They have clients for both Android and iOS. I need VPN client also.
    Maybe if more people poked them, they may do something about it.
  • And I don't know why I'm reading the comments section stoned.
  • They will blindly defend WP UNLESS there's a rumour that it may get Android apps. Then, suddenly, everyone is spelling doom and gloom and ready to jump ship lol
  • I dunno. The one thing WP doens't have a lot of is fanboys....... Would probably help their sales if they actually did. 
  • 'Lacking features' you must be joking! iPhone-No SD card slot,no file manager, no amoled display, no fm,no nfc,no wireless charging, no quad core processor, only a gigabyte ram,only 8mp camera,no xenon flash, no camera button, no micro usb,no variety.... You get the idea. Windows Phone has all of the above, and has phones at all price points. iPhone=no innovation since 2007. They don't even add the above basic features!
  • We were having this discussion before in the forums. You should exactly know how I feel and think about these things.
  • But still, I mean what features do you want in Windows Phone that are in iPhone? Except for the app argument, that is completely valid and true.
  • You should read my comment again, it was just a general remark. I can throw things at you that I'd like to have, and you will bring a reason why Windows Phone can do something similar, but in the end it doesn't matter. Windows Phone has a limited feature set in comparison to Android devices, and it has some missing featuers in comparison to iOS. As an example, Cisco VPN is just the most obvious one in my case.
  • Hmm... Then its good that you try iPhone before you make up your mind... Well you have used Windows phone a lot... So you know best. Ios will be a refreshing change for you then. Hope you come back after 2 years in case you get iPhone :)
  • A flashlight option in the action center.
  • They have a mute toggle switch? Lol
  • Lacking available carriers in the USA..lol.....The good news is I can get the top and newest iOS, Samsung, and HTC on ALL carriers. Talk about something,talk about lacking availability. And don't tell me to buy it unlocked because I shouldn't have to. They must not be needing to get their Flagships in people's hands and are only worried about low-mid range which are everywhere. I thinka 521 is on sale at Toys R Us.
  • Lacking hardware? Really compared to the maybe two sku's some releases? Even taking older hardware like the 1020 or 1520 there still far better peaces of hardware.
  • It's still great for teenage girls and soccer/karate moms.
  • Oh the arguement of opinion... The basis of interweb comments!
  • And nobody gives a shit..!
  • You give enough shits to comment on it, it would have been more impressive if you just had ignored it ;-) I hope Microsoft gives a shit, losing a loyal customer that used Microsoft run phones for 12 years. But you're right, it's Microsoft, they most certainly don't.
     
  • I don't think Apple will care too if you stay with them too for 12 years. Don't be silly.
  • Where did I say such a thing? Don't be silly.
  • Your comment just above my comment-'I hope Microsoft gives a shit, losing a loyal customer that used Microsoft based phones for 12 years.'
  • It's like being emotionally attached to a cat. You hope it cares about you leaving for holidays, but it never will. It doesn't make a difference whether it's a black cat or a white cat. It doesn't matter whether it is Google, Microsoft or Apple either.
  • Wait what about Brown or Yellow cats? Talking about Black and White cats, that's so racist. You sir, have been a bad person to make a comment about cats like that.
  • Good for you, but the flagships will probably be out soon; holiday season. Their cleaning garbage out of the house
  • You almost made me puke:-(
  • You should see a medical doctor, this could be serious.
  • Were are you located, Chregu?
  • Switzerland, I wasn't really located here though, just born by accident ;-)
     
  • Oh,, you wouldn't want to use an iPhone in Switzerland.. Trust me... Not a good idea..
  • THIS ^
  • Haaa!
  • And then probably return back to Windows Phone after you realize that iOS8 sucks!
  • I bought an iPad Air a few weeks ago and I really like iOS 7. I never liked iOS before that, but iOS 7 feels great. Still, I realize that I have never owned an Android device or an iOS device before (as I mentioned in another post, Microsoft for the last 12 years), so everything is new and refreshing for me. Of course, I'm more than willing to come back to Windows Phone in one or two years if all the promises come true.
  • Getting my first iOS next week. An iPod touch. After two Zune HDs, I threw in the towel. Nothing wrong with them. Best devices for music in my opinion. But i kinda like this cloud thing.. Where i can add a song to one device and have it on every other device. It was between an S4 mini and the touch. But at the end of the day and after watching even the 3GB RAM galaxy Tab S stutter on the web at YouTube review, I realized that even with 2.5 times less RAM, the iPod, like windows phone would be a smoother experience.
  • ...But you can do that with your Windows PC, Windows tablet and Windows phone.  I loved Zune on my old phone too - too bad they killed it.  That is probably my only real complaint with WP, Xbox Music.  Its just  nowhere near as good as Zune was as a music player.  It's just... awkward.
  • iOS 8 is looking good just like wp8.1 looks good and my god you sounds insane making other people minds up before they themselves do. He said he was into wp but it didn't work out, it's not the end of your world bro chill
  • Uhh iOS 8 looks the same as iOS 7. They only added a few features. So my point is if you don't like iOS 7, why would you think you would like iOS 8? It's the same OS with a few added features. Windows Phone 8.1 may be the same OS as WP8.0, but there are enough changes to consider it a new OS. With every update WP is becoming a new OS as it moves closer and closer to the"unified OS" for phones, tablets, laptops and PCs.
  • The lumia 930 just released and you guys cant wait for a new flagship? God Almighty , what does it take to please you guys? I would love the 930 but am quite happy with the 920 probably for the next year or two
  • Keep in mind not everyone lives in a country where the latest WPs are available. Last flagship in Canada was the 1020 but not everyone cares about a 41 mp camera, I know alot of people interested in WP but there is nothing for them to buy so they just upgrade to the latest iPhone and Android device. Microsoft also needs to do a better job at releasing closer to their announcements, they create all the buzz for WP 8.1 and new hardware then months go by and consumers either forget about it or move on with non WP.
  • Mmm, so I thought the 930 was international, so why can't Canadians buy that? Dies it not come on any of the carriers? Ps. Don't live in U.S. or Canada
  • Because the strong sales are on carriers and physical stores. I don't nkow how it is on the US, but in latin america and many other regions buying on the internet is something for the braves. Even with that, persons only buy things if they come from the official seller store, no ebay (mercadolibre), no amazon. So, in this case we can fault microsoft for not being good at selling things.
  • +1020  
  • Hey now, cursing will not be tolerated in this comment section. :P
  • I agree with you. With WP, all we ever do is WAIT WAIT WAIT. I'm sick of it. I've been sick of waiting for shit since I got my dvp. This is why I'll probably get the HTC one m8. Why? I love Microsoft, and Microsoft has ALL their services on other platforms, so it doesn't hurt me.
  • +1. I will be making this decision in January, when my iPhone 5 is ready for upgrade. Been hoping for WP, but its future looks bleak.
  • You are an idiot then...
  • So you're buying an iCrap
  • Chegru, I can't be mad at you. I defected to an iPhone 5 in Jan '13 when I was under whelmed with the 92x that AT&T offered. The lack of WP8 apps when they existed on WP7 was the nail in the coffin (I used WP7 on an HD7 for 27 months). I have been watching and hoping for a flagship that I can trade into in the next few months. It seemed to be McLaren (RIP my sweet flagship). I don't see me suffering with my iPhone for almost another year. I am supremely disappointed in MS and its WP offerings. -SAB
  • I'm fine with them ditching Android... it's a crashy, buggy, poorly optimized force close fest anyway... but I don't like seeing MixRadio in lingo...I use that service everyday and have found some amazing music through it's recommendations.
  • I do genuinely love my Lumia 928 more than my Nexus 7, but don't act like Android is a bad platform still. 4.4 is smooth, and a great OS. There are still some things about Android that are nicer than Windows phone. It's certainly not the perfect operating system (and neither is WP8.1), but to call it crashy, buggy, and poorly optimized is just fanboyism at its best.  I'm almost certainly continuing with Mclaren in the fall, but my Nexus 7 gets used at home almost every day because you can't get a windows tablet with similar quality for $230. The V8P is nice, but the screen doesn't compare. Once I can get a fullHD windows 8 tablet with a real stylus (8 inches or less - already have a SP!), then I can probably drop off of Android for sure (but not because its an awful lag-fest).
  • I've been with Android longer than I've been with WP, and owned more Android devices... one of which was the 2012 Nexus 7. As many owners of that device can attest to, it went from beautiful to unusable as they chucked buggy update after buggy update to us... and that's not even getting into the disastrous API changes made between 4.2 and 4.3 that broke more Play Store apps than our store has total. Then there was the NVIDIA Shield. A device I wanted desperately to love because they made all the right moves with hardware. It was slick, powerful, sturdy, high-quality, expansive and cut no corners anywhere... then the software experience happened and I realized that an un-ignorable chunk of my Play Store purchases weren't available. You speak of "smoothness" in 4.4's favor, but I had remarkable performance on my stock 2.3.4 Xperia Play from 2011 that STILL has people on my YouTube channel asking if I've modded the device to make it smooth. My problem with Android is consistency. That's not fanboyism, that's a reality vocalized by a mass far larger than us... and you calling me a fanboy lacks both basis and understanding.
  • I know a lot of people with android phones and those are not complaints I here from anyone except those with bias. All of my android phones have worked amazingly for me and don't crash, I have a moto x and it's not a problem. I don't get it I mean sure in the gingerbread days I would agree but hey you know if that's what has been happening to you then sorry to hear it but you should look again at an android phone before I take you seriously. All the platforms have gotten better and we should celebrate that not diminish all the hard work these companies have put into their products. Idk I mean if is that bad I would hear a lot more complaining 
  • True^^^consistency was never there with android.
  • I almost agree...   Android is 'better', but it sitll isn't as stable or consistent as WP8.    Go look at the Sony camera phone reviews from late last year, their biggest problems with the Sony device was Android and the camera App crashing, and not just the App, but taking the whole OS down with it.  Not a good selling point for a phone that focuses on being a high quality camera.   When Android frist came out, it was a mess, the 2.x builds started to get a bit better, but by 2.3 all the gains in 2.2 were lost and it was a mess again.  Instead of breaking things and starting over, Google put more Duct tape on Android and the ramp up to the 4.x versions are far better than the 2.x generation, it is still not even close to WP in terms of performance (full UI acceleration), security, or stability - both App and OS level stability.   I don't know if Android can ever get to the WP8.x level of stability based on the OS model and JVM design, as they were not built to be that robust.   PS As for Tablets - wait for the Fall for a new range of Windows 8 devices that are equal in price to Android devices.  Also note that many current devices from the 8" 2013 fall releases are faster than the Android versions - Dell had to even throw in a faster CPU in their Android version of the VP8 just to get close to the performance of their Windows 8.1 device. ;)    
  • True^^^. Look, Android is what it is, like netavenger said. Example: I went into vzw last week to pick up my icon, while I was waiting I played around with a couple of android phones, I wanted to give it a real chance because I heard from here that it was better-wrong- the 2 I used were laggy and one "force close". These weren't low end phones either, guess what? The WP phones and iPhones worked just fine....i left with my Lumia icon, and never looked back.
  • I recently shifted to Android after spending ages with WP but all these complaints about Android being laggy doesn't get into my head. I hardly experience any lag on a budget phone that I have.
    Posted via Windows Phone Central App for Android
  • Totally agree, MixRadio is fantastic service and as a family we are just 4 of the paying customers here in UK, also our clients are going for Nokia devices because of the free offline maps, talking satnav and free music via MixRadio therefore if they kill that service they would be shooting themselves in the foot! Xbox Music however the subscription too expansive and is time consuming also fiddley for users who don't have time to add and organise music for offline usage on their devices. Apple and others are buying likes of Beats because of MixRadio like services as long term investment and Microsoft is thinking of selling it!!! They should market it more and implement with Xbox Music with more subscription options. Time to hit the Twitter with this and suggest others raise their concern and support for #MixRadio via social media.
  • Maybe Nokia will buy it back. :)
  • MixRadio ++++++ MS should support it better, it's a beautiful design, excellent music, I like the pictures on the back while playing music, the artist's info displayed, pictures, concerts, twitter. I DON'T like XB music, it's horrible and just don't like it. I'm suscribed to MixRadio and I love it. Mexico 920
  • Yeah! Big Huge News! I have always hated Nokia for releasing the Nokia X series phones as it created a lot of confusion to the non-techie friends that I recommended to buy the Lumia 520. Now, Microsoft should focus on finding ways to pack a lot of features in the entry level to allow the upgraders to consider going for the high end after satisfaction from the low end. As for MixRadio; I'm really torn! I love it a lot especially considering that it's free. Microsoft should consider just merging it into Xbox Music as part of the Radio feature and leave it free for Windows Phone users while making Droid and iFruit pay a nominal fee for it.
  • I agree with you about MixRadio. I subscribe to it and like it. Xbox Music is terrible, so I'll have to find another music service.
  • Yeah I love Nokia mix radio too much and I always use it as I live in india I get free downloads for 1 year....one of the main reasons I prefered nokia phones....plz microsoft keep mixradio :)
  • I'm in the US, but I still like MixRadio+ better than Xbox Music.
  • Agree, we need to show our support for #MixRadio via social medial as mentioned above for Microsoft to hear our voice
  • MixRadio User Voice link for Microsoft not to kill MixRadio: http://nokiamixradio.uservoice.com/forums/229433-general/suggestions/6185150-microsoft-please-don-t-kill-mixradio
  • I voted.
  • Need to spread the word and hopefully Microsoft will see that there are many interested
  • Cool! I just used all my 3 votes for this..!
  • Let's just hope they take this seriously, have just posted the link on social media pages hopping that contacts also RT/share it
  • I just left my 2 cents, although I came up as "Anonymous."
  • I just gave it 3 votes not to kill Mix Radio and I hope they will listen
  • Let's hope so, further update on this suggests that they may just take it in a different line to Microsoft dealing with it directly under same roof however they should really invest in this fantastic service and implement it with Xbox Music at lower subscription fee also keep the basic as it is free for Microsoft device users (e.g. Lumia and Surface)
  • How did it confuse them. Weren't you specific enough, or what?!
     
  • Most folks that just use smartphones only know the brands and not the OS they run. For example most folks only think of a smartphone as being an iPhone, Samsung, LG, HTC, Nokia, etc. They have no idea what the OS they run is - just that they prefer the look of a particular phone. Now, the foreign folks that have both access to the Lumia 520 and X series, they got confused about the difference except for the price. Now, when I suggested that they go with Lumia because it has Windows Phone, they associated it to Windows and all the viruses and bugs that are associated with the desktop version. Now, try explaining that they will be more likely to hit with lots of malware on the X series and you just made their head spin..
  • I am waiting for this "breakthough products" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaMYomlhqhs
  • You see this is why I don't 'get' Microsoft sometimes... Flag ship devices..? Pitching against £500+ (or € or $) is all well & good, but which device was the runaway success of the Lumia range? The 520 was... Nokia could hardly produce enough, this was because low-end Android devices where just cheap & nasty... Yes I know it's been updated & now we have the 625 & 630, but where is the mid-range devices..? The 730? doesn't seem to be available in the UK... I just think that Microsoft taking on Apple is doomed, certainly in the US. I would have no more than two high-end & make them WOW devices, better if possible than Apple 6! But I'd also make sure than WP has a better low-end than any Android, & a mid-range with shit hot cameras!
  • Btw does anyone use MixRadio? If it's sold is that going to kill it..? It's ad free right now isn't it?
  • I have it, but don't use it much. I'm an XM Pass Subscriber. Yes, it is Ad-Free, but you're limited to 6 skips per hour and it's basically radio..Pick an artist, let's say 'The Beatles' and they'll play songs related to them. Anyways, it's free, and you can't complain on FREE. "If it's sold is that going to kill it..? " No Saber.
  • This sound like that site... Oh shit, I've forgotten the name, not kiss fm that's a radio station, anyway it did much the same a MixRadio a few years ago, the site could be red or black... Damn my brain...
  • Last FM, I meant Last FM.. I jointed that & used it for a while... But I've got nearly 20,000 mp3 uploaded to Google Play...
  • That new flagship is going to be like a virgin coming for the first time... Cause its going to be a "big bang"
  • McLaren is cancelled
  • Why if I may ask?
  • It is not. Yes, Goldfinger was cancelled but only because it was just made for developing the new technology. McLaren is the actual device that will be developed for costumers. It is not cancelled and it will be released soon.
  • I don't really wear costumes much. Can I still get a McLaren? Sorry, couldn't resist. :D
  • McLaren is my favorite team. I would love to have a McLaren phone. :)  
  • You a button ir Magnusson fan?
  • Very pleased they're dropping turdroid and others in favour of WP. :D
  • It's was a messy mistake in the first place. This will piss many who have bought into the Nokia X. Stupid strategy indeed. Undercuts the already popular 520! Gerrrrr!
  • It wasn't Microsoft's idea in the first place. If a product is in the pipeline it is in the pipeline... Not much you can do.
  • Balmer's or Nokia themselves?
  • Yes,  Nokia X was a product of Balmer and Nokia trying to get more sales of Nokia phones and in a subtle way introduce the Windows Phone platform to Android users.  It's not working so MS is now pulling the plug.  One thing to notice though is that the new Android L platform looks pretty "familiar".  Check it out.  Looks a lot like Nokia X Android to me...
  • Oh, please do enlighten us as to how Android L "looks a lot like Nokia X Android"!
     
  • But just a few weeks ago they released a follow up to the X. They had to know that this was gonna be the direction they would be taking. Why sell the folks in these burgeoning markets a handset you have no intention of following up on. Here's you a new phone by the way in 18 months we're gonna need you to toss it out and buy another. SMH
  • Who said you should toss them out - it's not as if those phones will suddenly stop working. Some of my phones have been EOL'd sometime ago but they still work fine. Oh and the Nokia X2, they were already in the works when Micorosoft got hold of Nokia D&S. It's not as if you could return the parts back and get a refund. They will be supported for 18 months and they will continue to work beyond that so they're going to be fine.
  • I totally feel you, man. Some people are total freaks when they talk about phones. It's like they expect the manufacturer to upgrade them forever or the phones will just stop working or something. I saw some guy bitching about how Nokia X is "stuck" on Android 4.2 and Noxia X2 is "stuck" on Android some_version. SO WHAT?!  
  • Nokia's last big silly mistake before their death. I bought their Maemo mistake the N900. Shame they went strategically tits up.
  • How do you like it?
  • The N900 was awesome! I had it for several years right after it launched. The MicroB browser is still one of the most advanced web browsers with full flash support and proper website rendering. I was a technology education teacher at an elementary school and I used my N900 to join online math games via Education City with my classmates. It enabled me to walk around and assist and play the games right along with the students. I have yet to find another mobile web browser with such flash support and web standards. The web has moved on and the N900s software has not been updated in years so the Microb browser is lacking the latest web standards but back in it's heyday, it was amazing. It had the desktop Adobe Flash 9.4. Using X-terminal was fantastic and I learned everything I know about linux command lines from having my N900. It really was like a pocket computer and far ahead of its time. Skype was built into the OS and I used to make skype calls often, the little kickstand, though not centered, was fabulous for skype calls from the desk and movie watching. The multitasking was legendary and still beats the multitasking of every current mobile OS. It had great stereo speakers, good camera, TV-OUT capability, powerful PowerVR GPU and audio capabilites. The only downside is that the N900 had a resistive screen instead of a capacitive screen and the fact that Nokia had 0 intention of selling the device as a mass market device. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxyLnwFSvI&index=12&list=FLIVJaXRBpzFJD_SDDv-_wHQ  
  • Sounds like features I'd love to have. Wonder if MS taking soon be technology from it?
  • That technology remains in the hands of Nokia.
  • I still have mine as a back up phone. 
  • N900 is my al time fav phne...i couldnt use it long as Whats App is not supported on it... it was a beast of a phone what with that awesome Browser, swirl to zoom in and out (genius thought), FM transmitter to play songs while on drive, i used to connect to my PC via WIFI and play movies stored in my PC on my phone... that camera, skype integrated... it owned everything around...its beyond me why it sell as much...
  • It had some good points, as pointed out by Deaconclgi, no need to add anything further, except the micro keyboard which was amazing. Bad points were the weight and lack of apps, support from an official capacity. You think WP is bad, there was nothing but indie developed stuff which was horribly confusing to access via the various repos. Can't imagine it won many fans from casual adopters. Angry Birds was the only big name. It was a brave move but ultimately doomed by the O/S. More of a geek niche product. I bought it because I'm die hard Nokia, but it wasn't easy to live with.
  • What the N900?
  • Yeah?
  • When you think about it, it has always been either a former MS employee or MS itself that cause those "big silly mistakes". I am not saying Nokia could be a big name in Android market either; but I think if they didn't get involved with MS or an MS employee, they would at least exist today. Not a bad deal for Microsoft and I am a fan of MS, but looking at the reality of the situation, getting involved with MS was what killed Nokia completely. Again, they were weakened before MS took over, but they could exist today at least, if there was no MS helping them make those silly mistakes.
  • I think if Nokia had aligned with Android, they would be second to Samsung in the market, and probably financially better than they were pior to MS purchase of their devices division. However, I think WP is awesome, and I'm happy as a consumer that they went exclusive with MS.
  • Actually, back then they stood a chance of actually beating Samsung. Samsung wasn't dominating in 2008/2009 as they are today.
  • If they had jumped on Android early, maybe, but they were too busy screwing around with Maemo and Symbian at that time. By the time they switched to WP, the damage had been done.
  • Nokia was already dying before they went to Microsoft for a deal. Oh and by they way, did you not know they went to Google first but couldn't get any deals? Google had Motorola and Samsung and LG and Sony and HTC, so had they gone with Android, Google would have left them to flounder and die on the spot without lifting a finger. Armchair analysts are always full of BS 20/20 hindsight, forgetting how "well" LG and Sony and HTC are doing.
  • You should re-check your facts regarding Sony in the mobile space...
  • Isn't it Google went to Nokia first?
  • Im guessing november is when the next flagships will be announced.
  • What the hell Microsoft?!
  • Nadella cleaning up ballmers mess!
  • Wow... you really believe that?
  • Renewed focus...
  • Ah yes, strategic synthesised synergies - Nadellas big game plan! Seriously, his e-mail felt big a big middle-finger to all the unfortunate people that got laid off.
  • Yup, the Android mess.
  • They're focusing on profitable products rather than nickel and dime junk. They're more interested in making money than focusing on useless metrics like market share.
  • Gee, didn't you read the article? They will still build low end phone, they will be windows phones, just like they were doing before. To build market share. I for one will be glad they will put more effort into high end products at the same time.
  • Yep, cleaning mess. Just focus on windows phone. There is possibility of success where continued focus lies on 'one thing'. Every one should read a 'One Thing', pretty good book.
  • You know the definition of "focus", right?
  • Wow, sounds like we may only see one new high end Lumia til Threshold?! Damn...
  • How did you come to that conclusion, especially when it says productS?
  • Yes, a big big S behind product.
  • If one high end phone is released on all major carriers in the fall, that would be fine to only have one until threshold in spring of 2015. It would only be a few months.
  • Heeeellllllll YES.
  • They should merge MixRadio and Xbox Music. I like the mixes they put together and miss that feature in Xbox Music.
  • You can't really merge them though. The services, software, and licenses are not interchangeable. Microsoft should build out a mix service on their own, but they won't save any time by trying to merge the two. I get the desire for the two services, but I think you're overlooking some serious and significant engineering issues if they wanted to actually combine them.
  • I'm not an xbox music user in any way, but I adore MixRadio, out of the two, MixRadio ticks every box...shouldn't they rename it Xbox Music and get rid of the one that everyone moans about?
  • No, Xbox Music does nothing but get better. Been listening to it more and more lately and the stations have come along way. Better now I think than Mix.
  • What happens to those of us who live where there is no Xbox music? We have Nokia mix radio now... What happens later? Will we not have music services native to our phone? I don't think Spotify has music downloads, though I hope I am wrong
  • I think that's the key point. It will be quicker to replicate curated playlist functionality than to try to merge the code sets.
    The user feedback on this one is clear though.
    Hopefully Microsoft can at least borrow some of the magic dust IP that made the Mix mixes so listenable.
  • I would like to see them buy Slacker and merge it. Their library is the biggest and their curated playlists are MUCH better than what I get from Xbox music or even most other services.
  • Thanks for answering my question that I was about to ask. A follow up question though. What would the downside be to keep mixradio, while building that type of service for Xbox music? Therefore not allowing an already established service get in the hands of the competition. As time and licenses go by you renew on short term to have them available for the new service from Xbox music.
  • Let's be honest; at the moment the XBox music app is garbage. As an XBOX Music pass owner, i really want my money back. Half my playlist don't sync on Windows Phone 8 and the app on Windows Phone 8.1 is barely usable. Yet, they speak of scrapping MixRadio which actually works perfectly on WP8 and WP8.1. They should ideally scrap the XBOX music App and build on the MixRadio app at the very least, instead of the proposed plan. Sure the XBOX Music Service has more Lincenses for music than mixRadio, but who cares if you can't use the app to access them. MixRadio is getting a raw deal. Now they will ask us to wait another year while they try to bring the XBOX Music app up to the quality of the MixRadio app today. This is Bull$@%!      
  • Totally agree!
  • Or just bring back Zune instead of XBox Music.
  • +920
  • Or just dump Xbox music altogether, biggest pile of crap I've ever cone across.
  • Lol. Viva la zune
  • From a branding perspective, I can't help but think that the Xbox name has broader appeal. That said, I fully agree that they should have made Xbox Music as good as Zune before killing off the latter - and ought to strive to do that now.
  • I constantly keep catching myself trying to delete that Xbox Music bloatware app. That whole idea of creating parallel offers (to Spotify, Deezer, Beats, you name them) and enforcing them on customers (app cannot be deleted) is utterly misguided. MixRadio had its merits - mixes were very good (no Pandora in Europe) and it was a free offer. The decision will just be another reason adding to a whole bunch of reasons to abandon the platform. Just go on, change Here maps for Bing maps...  
  • Bing maps is actually quite good no?
  • Hoping that whoever buys MixRadio keeps it on wp and maintains the status quo
  • I would rather see Microsoft bring XBox Music back up to the server/App levels they had when it was Zune and also get the Music Vault integrated an online so users can do both synchronized cloud and private collection cloud access and streaming.   I know the Vault stuff is coming soon, but it has been too long when it was teased amost two years ago. -It is time for a 'faster' Microsoft with better priorities.  Nokix MixRadio was a distraction, and a confusion the took users away from XBox Music.  
  • Users went from Xbox music to Mixradio, because the former is still eye-bleedingly terrible. Probably the worst excuse for a music app I have ever seen. Ten year old *Symbian * had a better native music player than WP's Xbox music.
  • How about making the 930 available in the US? :/
  • It is, it's called the Icon on VZW.
  • Sry, meant for everyone. I use AT&T so I miss out on their "flagship" phone, I think that's pretty weird.
  • Now you know how it feels, ATT always seems to get all the cool colorful Windows phones.
  • Damn, never felt so discriminated for being a AT&T customer ( ._.)
  • Not your fault lol it's the dumb exclusive deals.
  • Can you guess how T mobile and Sprint users feel? I'm on t mobile, and we don't have high end phones or even exclusives anymore, thanks to ATT.
  • Ha. Dont feel bad... My Att corporate store NEVER had the color hardware in stock when I went. I didn't end with 2 black 920s cause I love black so much... Its because it was my only choice and so didn't have the patience to order online.
  • AT&T got some nice flagship phones that VZW didn't :D This whole exclusive device thing sucks from a consumer perspective.
  • +930
  • +720
  • I'm on Verizon wishing for the 1520. It goes both ways. Also I would think you should be able to get the south America 930 same as the 1520.3
  • If I really wanted the Icon, I'd switch to Verizon. Why are people so averse to switching carriers? In my case, I'm grandfathered in to unlimited data with AT&T and that is hard to give up. I think I still would, though.
  • Personably I get shitty reception with AT&T where I live and awesome reception with VZW.  No way am I switching carriers for a phone and put up with shitty reception.
  • Because in some (many?) areas there is not much of an option. If you live in a major city then you can switch easily enough, but if you live in a rural area, or even a small city, then one carrier or the other may simply not work. I live near a decent sized city, and all carriers work fine outdoors, but the minute you walk inside then there is a huge difference between carriers.
  • It's best to wait. November is getting close.
  • Why? Everyone else missed out on the last flagship, 920
  • Except me +920
  • AT&T customers should be the LAST ones complaining about a lack of Windows Phone devices. You guys got the Lumia 920, Lumia 1020, Lumia 1520, Lumia 925 (which was techincally a competing carrier variant for the 920) & the Lumia 2520! You guys get all the "true" Lumia Windows phones. Even the Lumia Icon is more of a "variant" when it comes to its name & design. The Icon (930) is the FIRST time you don't get exclusive rights to a Lumia device since Windows Phone 7!
  • Lol yeah, it's been out for a minute now. Maybe that's Microsoft's fault on marketing??
  • MS never had great marketing. They hired some negative democratic Hillary campaigner for the job. I'm glad they relieved him of the job. Leave politics out of tech!
  • It is, it's called the icon.... Is Verizon exclusive
  • Mixradio :)
  • Goldfinger and McLaren are coming soon :D
  • I'd like to finger that goldfinger.
  • Goldfinger is McLaren.
  • I'll finger both.
  • Source?
  • YES! Screw Android! Just continue to make solid phones and for the love of God please market them well...
  • I'd love to see less bezel on the next 6".
  • Agreed! Very excited at the prospect of the 1525! The 920 was a bit hefty and chunky and the 925 fixed that. The 1520 has a great weight and slim size, but if the bezel could be trimmed a bit then it would be much more appealing. The prospect of a refreshed CPU/GPU and 1st party camera integration (no camera launch lag) would also be very exciting. This will probably be my next phone unless one of the new 3D touch devices turns out to be significantly compelling (unlikely).
  • Yep, good marketing is the key to success.
  • ... Which MS doesn't know how to do.
  • But again a fine product does not need marketing. It will market itself.
  • Not true at all! A good product makes marketing easy, but if it is kept behind leaded glass in a basement (as is MS's typical marketing strategy) then it is not exactly going to sell itself. Up until now MS has made a decent OS, but not a great one. 8.1 brings it up to parody, and hopefully Threshold will bring something to truly brag about, but even when MS has the clear winning platform (ya, maybe I am too optimistic) then MS will still fail to gain adoption if it is not marketed equally as well as Sammy or Apple devices.
  • Yippee......my awesome 1520 is still gonna get some MS love :-) on a serious note it does put a big smile on my face.....Ive had my 1520 for nearly 8 months now and have seen a load of new phones come out in that time....I was really worried that MS might have written the 1520 off as a bold but foolish move by Nokia.....thankfully not the case. I might show some love back and order that surface pro 3 now :-)))))))
  • ...and the other good news they just fixed the touch screen issue yesterday! And the lock screen double tap is now responsive!!! Yay!!!!!
  • Good news everyone!
  • All this leaves me a flavorless. I think that in one year or less we may bid farewell to WP, unfortunately.
  • Did you even read the article?
  • What the f ck are you talking about?!
  • Noooo! I hope that MixRadio deal falls through and they decide to keep it.
  • Yup, me too. They should keep it coz there are places where there is no Xbox music
  • Its not a big deal MS selling it if there is no benefit having it but should make an agreement to provide the service for windows phone. I am sure it will be sold to someone who is already in the market, that way they can improve the service which MS could not do with XBox Music.
  • "should", "sure"? ... Sounds like you have it all figured out.
  • I liked mix radio :'( Posted via Windows Phone Central App
  • The series 40 are the Asha series...
    Anyway, nothing here comes as a surprise. Well, apart from MixRadio...specially as it's still better than Xbox Music. Oh well... They can always sell it back to Nokia so that Nokia can put it on Android :P it also seems to explain why my 930 DIDN'T bring MixRadio pre-installed. As for new high end Windows Phones... Unless they come from Sony, I couldn't care less.
  • I've been reading your comments for the past year. And even though I happen to agree on a number of things with you, you really, really need to get over it!
    Favorite company or not, it's done. Nokia has had many transformations over the course of its history and this is one more. I don't see you care for them not making tires anymore...
    You care too much for something that doesn't pay you or gives you food. If you were working in Nokia, or had shares or anything official,to bind you to the company I would understand you. But it's a simple fanboyism.
    And face facts. Sony doesn't even make good phones! They're having hardware problems and freezing all the time!
  • "If you were working in Nokia, or had shares" See? Speaking without knowing. I actually do own Nokia shares. Although I'm a proud Nokia fanboy (well, fanman) I do also have financial interest in them. Also, Nokia didn't change their business, in case you haven't notice. They're still on mobile and they intend to remain there. They're just not making the phones.   As for Sony, it's only your opinion. Not mine nor of the many people I know who own Xperia devices and never had a single problem with any of them. Sony is the best Android OEM, hands down. And until I get better experiences from Samsung (no chance) or HTC, I will keep that opinion.
  • I agree with your assessment and I wouldn't normally consider myself to be a big fan of Sony products. Sony's Experia devices are really powerful, capable and well made. They are definitely top tier and probably better than Samsung by some margin. It would be nice to see them release a WP based on the Z2 / Z3 series.
  • Although I hope to see mixradio sold to good hands.
  • I need a proper new replacement for my 920. The 920 is imho still the best WP to ever be released, and the 930 is only a slight upgrade internally, and a downgrade externally. The killing of MixRadio is sad, but they should take those employees and put them into the Xbox music team. At least they know how to make a good app.
  • True, they should do that.
     
  • I think the 920 is the worst. It's big and heavy, was plagued with problems, had an ugly bezel around the screen. And while IPS is nice, WP without AMOLED just isn't the same. I went through 5 920s in less than a year. Bought a yellow 1020 and have been happy ever since. Yes, the 920 needs a better replacement than the 930, but the 920 is hardly the best WP.
  • I find the weight and size of the device to be perfect! It feels like a well built piece of technology rather than a toy. I haven't had any hardware issues with my 920, only software which can be fixed. The 920 is as well built as new iPhones are.
  • Same, same... And same!! But I don't agree with your last point. The 920 is better built than new iPhones are
  • I should have worded that differently. Its as premium feeling as an iPhone is. It is however, much better built without a doubt. :)
  • Totally agree :)
  • Ahhhh, They should've done this few years ago. Nevertheless, Now is better than Never! Cheers Microsoft.
  • Make mix radio free and Xbox music paid service :)
  • There is nothing free in the world.
  • SURFACE PHONE!!!!! DO IT!!!
  • ^This
  • ... With kick stand. I've always loved phones with kick stand.
  • disappointed with the news about mix radio, xbox music isn't available in all regions and mix radio is a good alternative..killing it doesn't make sense at least until xbox music is available globally
  • +625
  • They planned to sell, so there is still possibility that you ll get it from third party ..
  • +720. I too believe the same and most likely it will be sold to a big player and enhance their service.
  • This!!! And Xbox music with downloads the way Nokia mix radio has.
  • If they made Xbox music available globally the way it is now you would be very disappointed
  • Something is better than nothing
  • I must have really low expectations for a music service. Xbox Music does the job admirably for me.
  • Maybe jolla buys mixradio, that would be great...
  • Not sure Jolla can afford it...unless they get a side loan from Nokia lol
  • Seeing all the bullshit MS is doing, maybe they are seeling it for 50000 or so.
  • Both unavailable where I live, I can't even install mixradio on my phone because of my region.
  • Yeah!
  • Wait so there will be an even better flagship than McLaren when threshold gets announced??
  • There will always be a better flagship!
  • This is Awesome especially for Windows Phone as most people still want to purchase a Nokia but avoided WP in favour of Andriod. Something BIG is coming to Windows Phone
  • Hmmm, I hope its not this.. I want more than this
  • You made no sense, you know that, right? People wanted a Nokia but avoided WP in favour of Android... And so killing the Android is good? Our are you hoping that those people will go to WP? Also, there'll be no more Nokias. And if they kill the only phones that could actually carry the Nokia brand, then those people will go somewhere else.
  • "...flagship engineering efforts towards new flagship products timed with the next release of Windows and Windows Phone," referring to the Spring 2015 'Threshold' update." Snapdragon 810 would be available by then, which would make an awesome high-end Lumia.   Sad to see Asha and S40 go, though. 
  • Why the fuck did you buy it in the first place? It was just perfect the way it was.
  • If you're referring to Nokia, then no. The company was losing money every quarter and would go bankrupt or bought by a competitor. Nokia was in big trouble starting years ago with Symbian.
  • No, just MixRadio. Which I guess was also only running on device profits but it still was great.
  • Microsoft had to buy them, it was part of the package. Same with the feature handset stuff. Microsoft didn't really want it, but that is what was offered. Nokia was smart. They knew they'd have one chance to sell it all. No one wants their S40 line, which would be dead in a year, so they didn't want to be stuck with it either.
  • MS had to buy Nokia because of the Lumia line. The baggage had to come with. Also they had to buy because no other OEM were shelling out WP.
  • Pardon me. But Nokia is the 2nd largest manufacturer in the world in terms of sales because of S40
  • MS finally got "Focus" as far as WP ic concerned!!
  • Finally...? Ok.
  • LOL! It takes no focus or coordinated engineering to converge every Windows product around the same kernel.
  • I will be very dissapointed if the MixRadio will be sold to somebody else. Few hours earlier, Tom Warren tweeted that MixRadio will be killed, and he received a reply from MixRadio itself to delete this tweet since MixRadio will not be killed (unfortunately I didn't take a screenshot, the conversation does not exist already).
     
  • If they stop that exclusive carrier junk, maybe they would still more "high end"phones.
  • Even if Mixradio is sold why would the new company abandon the user base they already have? You would have to assume they still would support the current user base.
  • IF THEY KILL MIX RADIO FOR THE XBOX BS....I'M MOVING BACK TO ANDROID. PERIOD. 
  • So if they kill one existing service for another existing service you will move back to a platform where the killed service doesn't even exist? Solid logic.
  • Unfortunately Xbox Music isn't available everywhere.
  • Same with MixRadio.
  • True, and hopefully that will continue to change.   However, there are other services that they can switch to without having to move to Android, as 99% of them also run on WP.
  • More apps that allow me to play a personalized radio or just stream music in MY country. Regards.
  • The service was the reason he came to this place anyway. If the service isnt here, he loses his reason to be here.
  • Nothing's being killed. They're halting the development of Mix Radio as they're looking for a buyer of the service. Once they sell the service, development will be continued.
  • Over mix radio? Pandora, Spotify?
  • m'kay buh-bye!
  • I want a 1030. The camera off the 1020 but with better screen and processor of the 930
  • This is mainly good news. It's good that they're going to focus on higher margin products. They don't have big volume, so dropping the low-margin junk will bring money in to support the business. Supporting the business and making profits is infinitely more important than growing market share.
  • Looking forward to the shorter update cycles
  • Give us Xbox music here in Indian then scrap mixradio if you want...but not otherwise.....
  • Microsoft should not sell MixRadio! MixRadio is one of the main reasons why I went with Nokia & Windows Phone in the first place! If they get rid of MixRadio I'll probably go back to Android and get me a Nexus 5 or Moto X.
  • Maybe they are selling it because it shows how incompetent MS is when you compare it to Xbox Music crap that's built in.
  • I enjoy the hysteria. For one, just because it is sold off doesn't mean it won't be further developed, even for Windows Phone. Note that they are selling it, not killing it. Second, you can't download MixRadio for Android in the Google Play store anyway, so your argument, forgive me, is bizarre: "I can have it here, but not there, but I'll go there because I'm pouting"? MixRadio exists, will continue to exist and will continue to function on Windows Phone.
  • +1 Daniel
  • Unless you're the buyer, you don't know that.
  • @Daniel If Microsoft sells MixRadio, the new owner might put in ads or charge some sort of subscription fee to keep it ad free, they might also make it cross-platform. So it in effect would make it no different to Pandora, Slacker and the countless of other music streaming services out there. Don't get me wrong I love how modern WP looks, feels, & operates but with the Windows Store limited app selection and MixRadio possibly being sold that is why I said I might go back to Android. I wonder what's next Here Drive? Here Maps? As of right now this is a rumor and I hope it stays that way and MS keeps MixRadio exclusive to Lumia.
  • I agree. From the business point what MS is doing right. Concentrate on Xbox music instead of trying to merge mixradio which is not going to happen. This way we will have Xbox music as well mixradio as a separate service by a third party provider or merged into another music service which is already existing. Either way we will be benefited but other OS may also get it.
  • Xbox Music is literally years behind the competition. With all this restructuring and no one having any idea what is going on at MS I doubt they will ever catch up. I'm giving MS till November to have all their ducks in a row for me to consider staying and not going to Android. I'm sure quite a few people with WP have similar sentiments.
  • Second, you can't download MixRadio for Android in the Google Play store anyway, so your argument, forgive me, is bizarre: "I can have it here, but not there, but I'll go there because I'm pouting"?
    oh....yeah I can't download MixRadio in the Google Play store...but the Google Play store have more services that allow me to play a personalized radio or stream music in my country for FREE.  Just look at Deezer for Windows Phone and compared it against the Android app. Look Google just bought Songza... Songza for Windows Phone is just pathetic right now and with Google having ownership of it...there will be no more Songza. Apple got Beats for iTunes Radio. If Microsoft thinks that Xbox Music is remotely good they are delusional. 
  • If it's not going to be developed by the people who built it then who gives a crap. Just more bad short sighted decisions.
  • Is there mixradio on Android?
  • High end is not the way to go. Look at the sales figures. Windows Phone has all of its sales in the low end device market. MSFT may wish to make Windows Phone a premium Apple-like phone, but no one is buying.
  • High end phones are more marketing then anything. It gets the name or there and creates desire. That's why they are called flagships.
  • Yeah, cause the iPhone 5s was just a marketing phone, no one bought that ;)
  • IPhone is popular in the USA only. Check market share outside the USA it's small because it's very expensive.
  • Yes, totally right, mid end is where their focus should be
  • You overlook one problem: money. Microsoft does not make money selling Lumia 520's, etc. The profit margin on those devices is razor thin. Companies make more on premium handsets, which is why Apple makes a killing every quarter on their overpriced wares. Point is, they can continue to sell lowend but they really do need to make compelling highend, especially for the US market.
  • Exactly because we can get a high end phone for the same price as a low end phone.
  • Ideally, providing a lost leader like the 520 is a good move, as it will get users to try WP and then be more comfortable buying the high end devices.   (Even the users buying the 520/630 deals to use as a media/gaming device off plan gets the platform in user's hands making a high end WP device less risky for their main phone.)
  • With new partners that are producing low end handsets for key markets, shifting their focus to higher end handsets may yield better results for partners. In turn, this could encourage other OEM's to adopt the platform as well. They always have the option of shifting focus to the low end if partner engagement and sales isn't up to par. Phasing out Asha and Nokia X doesn't inherently mean that they are pulling out of the low end market. It just makes sense to limit the platform support requirements for the Microsoft Mobile division going forward. Some are saying that Nadella is cleaning up Ballmer's mess but that doesn't really add up. Most of the cuts are centered around Nokia and I suspect that the vast majority of those are supporting Asha and Android or are a duplication for existing resources in Microsoft. If anything, he is cleaning up Elop's mess.
  • If there's no high end device by November, I'll have to switch to a high end Android device. I'm not waiting.
  • Goodbye Nokia x. Thank. God.
  • The Chinese gonna be mad!
  • RIP: MIXRADIO
  • MixRadio will continue to exist. Once sold, development will continue.
  • Development by who? If it's not Nokia or MS why should anyone care?
  • Oh yeah, I forgot that only Nokia and Microsoft have good services. Maybe I should stop using Youtube as it's not from either./s
  • Well looks like they don't want the burden of offering a free streaming service :P, why not bring back zune and merge that with mix radio instead of going down xbox music route which is a farce of an app imo. No matter what I do, I can't get the damn thing to play my music lol. Now mixradio is dead in the water, looks like the only thing for it is to code my own, which will take awhile as I'm still learning :l.
  • If Microsoft wanted to turn around the high end phone market in the USA, they need to stop doing exclusives with one phone company on there flagship devices! It doesn't help the market when you can only get flagships at one of the 3 major carriers!
  • They need to take a page from Apple and release one flagship device to all carriers in all parts of the world once a year and the same for mid and low range phones as well. To me with them releasing new devices periodically throught out the year (flagships and mid to low) to me adds confusion to the general user.
  • "release one flagship device to all carriers in all parts of the world"
    These arguments always overlook one component: the carriers. They don't want "one flagship device" they want their own custom hit. Nokia said as much years ago with the Lumia 800. That was what you wanted: one (at the time) flagship Windows Phone for everyone. Carriers around the world balked. They did want the same phone as their competitor and Elop said as much in interviews. Look at Samsung and their early Galaxy line. It was all customized for each carrier, with each having their own variant. The game changer here is when marketshare overpowers the carriers, then they can't say no. That is why Samsung can now sell "one" Galaxy S5 to all carriers (and why Apple always could). When you have 4% marketshare, going to a carrier and saying "Take it or leave it" does not work.
  • I completely agree Daniel but they need to put the breaks on with all these devices being released.  It seems like every other month there is a new device somewhere. The Icon/930 is fairly new and come a few months there will be another flagship phone itching to be released and probably so more new mid/low range phones as well. This is gotta tax Microsoft in R&D with manufacturing these variants. Hopefully with in a few years Microsoft can command one device for all carriers..
  • I wonder if those new flagship (McLaren) with WP8.1 GDRX will be updated to the new version next Spring... :\
  • It will.
  • The subscription cannot be renewed for Mixradio in India. Oxicash.com no longer has the page put up on their website.
  • Go to a Nokia care centre. They have vouchers
  • Sad news because I use a lot MixRadio and I'm big fan too. But I understand the argument of "the mixed messages it sends to consumers who purchase Lumias". Indeed, for new consumers this could be a redundancy.
  • Microsoft, you are now slowly gaining my trust back. Thank you for listening
  • All of this sounds like Elop when he was trying to become CEO...the hand of the King perhaps
  • I'd he is the hand of the king, someone just snapped a picture of him sitting on the toilet with a couple of arrows through his chest.
  • Let us hope he gets his head chopped at the Sept of Nadellor or that Gates pays him a visit while he's in the toilet.
  • Sucks about mixradio. Wish Xbox music wasn't so expensive. I know to some it isn't, but for me and people I know the cost doesn't justify it. I only know one person who has it and that it only because of the $35 (black Friday week?) deal MS had.
  • So the question becomes buy one of the new "high end" devices getting announced "soon" (I'm betting that translates to holiday season) or wait to see the flagship devices that will come with threshold. Also I find it interesting that the next phones are called "high end" While the threshold devices are called "flagship".
  • I'm a little confused. Before it became MixRadio, wasn't it Nokia Music and didn't it have a subscription EXACTLY like Xbox Music? It wasn't until it became MixRadio that it ditched that system and became the $3.99 thing that I don't see much benefit to.  Anyway, I just don't understand why MixRadio and Xbox Music can't be "merged", when it seems to me that MixRadio could just be renamed and returned to its previous subscription model from a year or so ago and Xbox Music could just be chucked. 
  • Does this layoff and restructuring count as Microsoft's news about "something big" happening for WP?
  • Now I'm able to get the reason for non availability of mix radio vouchers here in India...
  • Actually, I think it sounds like we DO have a while to wait for a new "crown jewel".  If the next big thing is coinciding with the next big advance in the OS, than that will be next spring.  So, it would make zero sense to put out a new flagship that won't really be a flagship for more than a couple of months.  I just don't see any hint that a device is coming this year that will truely replace the Lumia 1020.  The 930 isn't it, neither is the 1520.  And I laugh at the suggestion to get one of the low-end devices like the 635.  Ain't gonna happen.  Top of the line Windows Phone or nothing.
  • So what does "other high-end products that we will be announcing very soon" mean, then?
  • Dan, I know that was sarcasm, but am I right in guessing that they're referring to McLaren?
  • MixRadio looked really nice, but I - admittedly - didn't use it. That said, Microsoft could just sunset the service and keep its content rights (or at least the content Xbox Music lacks), and then build a new service, e.g. Xbox Radio.
  • Sd card slot for 930
  • Killing MixRadio is a HUGE mistake especially in markets such as India, where Xbox Music or whatever isn't even available. All my friends I've sold on Windows Phone have been sold on it because of MixRadio
  • Exactly... MixRadio has been a selling point of WP in India..
  • It's good to hear a new high end phones r being released but what about mid ranged phones cause some can't afford a high end phones I hope they do another 1220 or 1325 not huge 5"is enough
  • Thank god, Nokia X was an aberration not worthy of existing, nobody liked it.
  • I feel its again a US centric approach of MS. MixRadio is present in more regions than the Xbox music if I'm not wrong..
  • Yup
  • Don't be surprised, you already know Microsoft doesn't giving a f*** for countries outside the US.
  • NOOOO the Mix Radio....it's the only reason I bought a Lumia.
  • Over a radio?
  • It's not a radio! It's a personalized mix of music you can listen to for free!
  • I think I'm starting to hate Microsoft. Killing X and maybe MixRadio (by selling it) and ofc all those layoffs in Finland.
    Shame you Microsoft!
  • * I'm with them on killing X. It was a questionable move to begin with.
    * I'm with you about MixRadio. I think there is value in that got them and a nice feature of Lumia.
    * I don't know enough about their staying redundancies or fiscal realities to have much of an opinion about the layoffs. It does stuck, though.
  • If you though Nokia was going to survive on its own, you're dead wrong. Nokia was treading water years ago, living on borrowed time. If Microsoft didn't buy them, they would have had to sell anyway. Look at their stock when it was around $2 a share. What is happening to Nokia would have happened anyway, just by a different company.
  • Well said..
  • Only if Nokia had made Android devices....sad incidents of life. Hmph! Posted via Windows Phone Central App for Android
  • I have an idea for speeding up sales of Windows Phones in United States. You know those booths of cell phone service providers you always see in Costco and Sams Club? Microsoft should buy that company, then replace all of the Android phones with Windows Phones from all the major providers, like Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and all the many prepaid companies. Then as you walk by and consider an upgrade, Windows Phones will be there in all their glory. Imagine how many more Windows Phones would make it into the hands of consumers, when a Windows Phone is the only option.
  • God I hope they keep the MixRadio designers! They should take over Xbox Music app development.
  • They should sell MixRadio back to Nokia Oyj and have the manage it.
  • This!!!
  • If Nokia Oyj had wanted MixRadio, they would not have sold it off in the first place. Come on...
  • Well, then I at least hope their plants to sell it fall through and they keep it. I'd rather them keep it, it's a good selling point, and could be exclusive to certain devices.
  • Or at least sell to someone who would give the effort that Nokia did.
  • Sell it to Google. Bring MixRadio to Android, Nokia. Posted via Windows Phone Central App for Android
  • So Google buys Songza because they see the benefit of having a curated playlist service and Microsoft is selling theirs? I hope they mandate a Windows Phone presence in the terms of sale. Maybe Nokia will buy it back. :)
  • Microsoft has their service - Xbox music. They're selling the part that came with Nokia.
  • Xbox music have free offline playlists? I dont have music in my phone so i dont use xbox music .. I just use mixradio.. Do you know another APP like mixradio free?
  • You didn't need a crystal ball to guess this Nokia Android venture would suck and fail.
  • I'm a bit worried about mix radio. I'm one of the few that have a lumia of my friends. And this was a total selling point to them. I cant recommend xbox music as the app is awful, and although I love rdio the app could be far better for me to keep a subscription. #sadtimes
  • I'm shocked... oh wait, isn't this what a bunch of us were saying when the Nokia X launched.
  • So What does this mean exactly? Are they cancelling Mixradio all together? Or that it will continue to live on WP? will i still be able to download music? I will be really pissed if they (Microsoft) stoped the service cuz i have lifetime unlimited subscription on the service and i love it.
  • I feel for the 18,000 people. Hopefully they get some type of package. I'm excited for the WP news though.
  • Thank you for saying this! This isn't a time to bemoan the loss of a freaking music service. Regardless of whether it makes good business sense or not, displacing that many people from their jobs is incredibly unfortunate.
  • It's extra harsh when you realise a lot of the people that got laid off have the same specialties and resumes. There's going to be a lot of long-term unemployment for these poor people since there's no way the local companies has an interest in hiring thousands with the exact same background.
  • I understand your point Daniel, that premium needs to sell in US, but pardon me I don't like this "globalization". Focusing on US doesn't bring them market share. They are killing MixRadio which is a good alternative to Xbox Music in countries where the service is not available. In Europe, MS with bing and Xbox is almost non-existent. I don't know why is that hard for them to acknowledge that EU can spend more money than US. The premium devices were sold in a higher nr in EU despite the fact that most services don't work here. If they will focus on US, they will never ever gain market share.
  • "They are killing MixRadio..."
    No, they are selling it so it can continue to exist. It just won't be managed by them.
    "Focusing on US doesn't bring them market share. "
    Neither has failing in the US to win any significant gains. It's not just about the US, but it does play a part. EU is just over 500m people; all of the US is 320m. They're a US based company, it's not hard to fathom why it is easier for them to do things in first in the US.
  • Am I missing something? I haven't read anything that states that they are going to, "focus" on the US. Targeting a high end market doesn't inherently equate to the US. As for MixRadio / Xbox Music, Microsoft has the capacity and the global footprint to expand Xbox Music but that is one service out of how many? Which is more important? Cortana development or Xbox Music? Outside of this community, how popular is MixRadio? Does it draw people to the platform? Are new adopters more likely to use MixRadio, Xbox Music or Pandora? Selling MixRadio doesn't really MEAN anything. It's an asset that they are selling because they think it makes good business sense. Do they have a plan to address the gap? I'm sure they will let us know when they are ready but they have bigger fish to fry at the moment. I'm constantly amazed by how many people on this site use inference and deduction to generate hysteria without all of the information.
  • MixRadio is amazing! If that goes ill have to start buying music...
  • What?! I love MixRadio! It's my main music service. Don't let it go, Microsoft :(
  • I am looking forward to buy MixRadio.. How Much will it cost me?? :D :P
  • no more android on microsoft?
    it's great.
  • They can start with fixing the purple hue issue on 930.. Really annoying buying a flagship phone with this bug.
  • Settings > Display > Color Profile > Advanced and adjust it yourself. Problem solved.
  • Not quite.. Here you can see the keyboard with brightness at the lowest (in brightness profile too) and tint set all the way to green. http://i.imgur.com/P9riwyp.jpg
  • Please no..mix radio is a wonderful service & provided at very low cost with compressed downloads..only $4.5/3months
  • One good decision supported by another terrible one..... Am all for ditching the X series, but not mix radio....its one of those apps that came preinstalled & have been using it since day 1 & its a lot better than xbox music, especially in regions outside US.  Microsoft - home to the dumbest smartasses on the planet.
  • Bring back Zune and we'll stop complaining.
  • Selling MixRadio would be a wrong decision. Because XBox Music doesn't support most regions
    .
  • Please Vote to save MixRadio People Link: http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/6184727-do-not-cancel-mixradio-on-windows-phone-8-8-1
  • Save it from what, being sold and further developed?
  • To save it from being sold and then these possibitlities could arise 1. completely being taken out from WP (My biggest Nightmare)  2.  not actively developed by who ever buys 3. Software being scrapped in favour of some other third grade service 4. The Buyer of this service makes itavailable on iOS & Android (My 2nd nightmare) Y? Cuz its the best selling feature of WP (How can you not love UNLIMITED LIFETIME music downloads? )  5. An increase in the price of subscriptions & so on Instead Microsoft Could keep the service running without scrapping it in favour for the shitty SuckBox Muisc Service 
  • But how would it benefit Microsoft to hold on to it. Also, all of those scenarios you mentioned could very well happen under Microsoft, if they did hold on to it.
  • I am not saying to actively develop it, just keep it ALIVE and the service RUNNING. do not kill it or sell it which is the same thing. And this time around People are signing up for Mixradio all over the world cuz it has a greater reach that xbox music and has a huge selling point outside the U.S. and to add  to that Microsoft gets the revenue from the app just by not selling it. Believe it or not Mixradio is HUGE  whereas Xbox Music is not even heard of by most people (Except enthusiasts) outside the united states.  
  • Remember when Apple bought Lala ..... do you ?  Lala was no more... Just this year Apple had to buy Beats Music !!!
  • No more mixradio? I knew that Microsoft hate India.
  • No, it clearly states that the issue is with their coding which dose not allows to merge. Wait untill what they take the decision.
  • In recent months, I have seen a plethora of apps and services that target India for this platform. Many of those are coordinated between Microsoft and local Indian service providers! It is a well established fact that it is one of the single most important markets in the world. Satya Nadella's qualifications as a technologist and a leader speak for themselves but his heritage shouldn't be dismissed as pure coincidence.
  • So they are releasing a flagship on the fall of 14 and another one in the spring of 15? That's ridiculous.
  • My 1520 has lots of life left,more Tha any other WP to date!
  • I hope Microsoft uses the Mixradio business model. Standard audio with limited skips for free. Plus the user interface. I actually prefered it to Xbox Music for WP 8.
  • good.  Release the replacement for the 1020 ASAP... Now that I have 1520 the Time to shot on my 1020 is just way to much for the genreally small improvement (given I dont need to zoom)
  • I wonder if WP is going the way of Microsoft Zune. It all sounds really familiar.
  • Absolutely right
  • Maybe I'm not understanding the technology behind the different services but wouldn't it be simple to keep Asha for things like flip phones and PDA type devices and just make it look like win8 for Nokia x o well it was no purpose for it in the first place. Mixradio I never had the honor but at least make it more compatible with Xbox music instead of killing it
  • Good news for Windows Phone platform :)
  • Who needs Asha when the Lumia 540 will support Android apps?
  • Sad t hear mix radio is going. One of my - and other recent WP owners - fave services for free music discovery. Indeed, I've bought several songs from Xbox as a result!
  • You cannot abandone mix radio please Microsoft. You took brand, their apps, services, employees and now terminating everything seams like the Nokia is dead. This is seriously not fair!
    Its better to rewrite the algorithms and codes to share so that everything is merged and support each other in terms of maturing and enhancing the OS at broader scale.
    I also know bellmar did wrong things at right time..
  • Not good... What's about Ubuntu phones. Open source OS :)
  • Finally Microsoft is moving in the right direction! Ditching all other useless projects. And focusing on what matters.
  • Don't sell MixRadio its way way way better than xbox music for international users :(
  • Indeed. International users really depend on MixRadio for the music experience. If Microsoft doesn't offer similar experience once they dumped Mix Radio, I'll ditch my 1520 in favor of the next iPhone. (Android doesn't have a great music service in my country)
  • MixRadio? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • I just want a music player that can handle playing mp3, flacs and such, without Xbox or at least without constant loading.. :D
  • Wow, impressive that MS is actually doubling down on Windows Phone. The focus is definitely needed. The Asha/Nokia X stuff clouded the picture and undermined confidence in the brand and Microsoft's commitment to it.
  • I have both Xbox music and MixRadio. I use the latter more and I will miss it. Xbox music desperately needs some sort of mix music and offline feature. I will be watching closely
  • Nooo.. Please Keep Mix Radio. It's the only music service in the WP ecosystem that's available in my country. And it's one of my main reason buying a WP. Kinda hate X-Box Music.
  • I agree, I like mix radio.
  • New flagship will be mine.... Maybe... :-)
  • Somehow, it was predictable that the x line was going to be dumped, but mix radio? That makes me sad
  • So, MS releases the Nokia X, then almost instantaneously announces, "That's it! We'll only provide maintenance for a year and a half, then you're on your own if you bought one."  So if it were to be a success, owners of the X would probably buy an Android phone at replacement time, since thanks to MS, they'd already be used to Android.  The 930, a.k.a. Icon, is only available in the US for customers of Verizon. If you're in the US and want the latest 5" flagship from Nokia, you're out of luck if you're locked in to the other carriers. The 1520, only available on AT&T, is going to be just about the last to get the 8.1 update in the US, and roughly 90 days later will be replaced with a newer 1520, or 1525. Of course, this will be a full two months after Apple releases the iPhone 6, and Samsung releases the Note 4 and a new Galaxy, on all major carriers. Does Microsoft want people to actually purchase Windows Phones? I can't remember the last time I saw a WP commercial, or an advertisement. It doesn't look like MS has it in the ol' DNA to truly understand the consumer market. From what I can gather reading that rambling 3,100 word memo to employees, 18,000 of whom will no longer be employees, Nadella seems to want to focus resources on the business market, and treat the consumer end as the red headed step child. There doesn't seem to be have ever been a coherent strategy for marketing Windows Phone, nor can we count on MS sticking with whatever strategy du jour they have in mind for the OS or actual devices.    
  • Very good points, well said.  It's completely logical from a business standpoint the cut backs that will take place that there will be some folks upset about it, and your quite right in questioning if anyone there truly understands the consumer markets, because it is quite evident they don't.  I think whoever buys Nokia Mix needs to really update it and make it available worldwide for free, and offer a paid version free of ads.  Nokia will be able to make new phones in a  couple years, and I am sure that what they come out with by then will do well. and their app will work well with it
  • Idiots, don't sell Mix Radio - it's far better than this Xbox app - even if you can't play your own songs with it! At least they should integrate it...
  • Yeah this is innovative - huge restructuring every 12-18months - a great way to get stuff done. Hats off to you MS... 
  • Excuse me, the sarcasm from you is so thick I was wondering if I could have some and put on a toast? Because it's delicious!
  • For those who don't want MixRadio go, Please mention @Microsoft to save MixRadio with #SaveMixRadio
  • "Some of this news should not be surprising, but the abandonment of the Android-based Nokia X ought to make those who question Microsoft's mobile motives pleased." I can't be more pleased to read this. No way should this OS be toss over for android or anything else. Windows Phone is the future and google better understand its about to be "regulated" MS style.   
  • I love MixRadio, please don't go away....
  • Damn! There are not many reasons I prefer WP over Android ... Mix Radio is one of the main reasons.    I really hope they will not dump it. 
  • http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
  • Allow multiple apps in single screen in high end models. High end models and low end don't have to much difference other than hardware! They should give extra features in high end models! Like Samsung note 3, minimizing videos, typing notes while watching, using calculator while doing a office presentation! Something like these features should be there instead of only hardware difference(prosessor or camera) which will make the app work 1sec faster or something like that!
  • Ugh.. I loved mixradio.. Xbox music is so bad.. It's garbage.. Xbox videos too.. I opened the app other day and it fucking stinks.. So boring and there is nothing good.. Look at Google play (music, books, movies/tv series, magazines..) on the other hand, its so nice n they got everything.. MS is giving me more and more reason to leave windows phone.. Bunch of idiots! Apple just bought beats music.. Google bought songza.. Even though they both got their own music services.. I thought MS will keep and develope mixradio.. Since its so good.. Few more months.. If they don't announce a good high hand phone then I'm done with WP.. I see now why we don't get good games or apps first.. Even if I was a developer, I wouldn't build an app for WP.. People who buys WP barely have money to buy the phone in first place.. They are not gonna spend a dollar on an app or five dollars on a game.. And seems like that's the direction they want to go.. Build more crappy 520s.. Freaking those should consider this generations "dumb" phones..
  • This makes so much more sense than the news we've received about Android on Lumias in recent weeks.
  • McLaren Fyeah!
  • I'm a little confused by the comments I am reading. Maybe this is good news from the point of view of Microsoft as a business, but I cannot see anything positive from the point of view of the WP user base. Massive layoffs. Putting MixRadio development on hold. Looking for someone to buy MixRadio. I've lost track if that is a rumor or a report. Keep in mind that MixRadio was a perk for those of us that bought a Lumia phone. It looks to me that WP users are the losers on this deal.
  • Thinking about this a bit more, this strikes me as almost but not quite as bad as when MS killed off Zune. The music experience on WP is already not ready for prime time. This potentially makes it worse.
  • Vote to stop MixRadio from going anywhere! http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
  • WTH??? killing s40!!! Are you kidding me? This is gonna cost you more.
  • +MixRadio ...keep it working (and free) on WP, whatever you do!
  • I'm afraid to say, but the existing customers of non-wp(non-android) I.e Asha,s40 and Nokia X,XL who are prominent in 3rd world countries are going to be let down and they ain't going to buy windows phone, instead Android, for sure. Note my words.
  • I get the backend of MixRadio and Xbox Music might not be compatible but he former is available in more countries than the latter, Microsoft could very well benefit from those license agreements, assuming that's what makes the difference.
  • Well MS needs to keep services like Mix Radio intact and running. Particularly in country like India. But that service, which seems,to be the only genuine way to get songs on your Lumia, does not seem to be getting any love from MS. The option to but music voucher does not seem to be working now for more than,a month. I have a 920, my subscribtion ended after a year in early June, since then have no option to redeem it. On calling Nokia / MS answer is currently there are some issues and u cannot but voucher either in stores or online. So my point is if MS wants to sell PREMIUM phones, they need to get such things right and provide best experience to users. Wonder why has no one yet bought to the notice of WP central.
  • Awesome news!!!
    All of it...
  • Why? Are you blind?
  • MS has gone bonkers lately. Selling off MixRadio??!! That's the shittiest news I could've heard of late. First of all they destroyed a great company as Nokia and then that people have accepted it happily, they are changing terribly - firing workers, shutting down plants, killing Nokia X series which is hardly six months old and now trying to sell off MixRadio despite Xbox Music being terrible on WP. No wonder Nokia is trying to develop great stuff for Android now. MS is getting more and more insane. Posted via Windows Phone Central App for Android
  • All good news, but will still go out with my 925 any day any time
  • "Although devices like the Lumia 1520, Lumia 1020 and the newer Lumia 930 are elegant, impressive and competitive, shoppers instead opt for entry-level Lumias." Well that is because not everyone can afford to buy the biggest and the best. So there will always be a need for mid to lower end phones. Unless like... for some reason... like everyone in the US (example) got like a 10,000$ annual pay raise. THEN more people will buy mid to higher end phones, because they can actually afford it. I had a 100$ budget for my first real smartphone ever, so i looked around among several androids. I later came across the Nokia Lumia 521 with TMobile's amazing 30$ monthly plan (which is a great price for unlimited data and unlimited international texting with 100 mins of calls *i dont call that much*) at only 79.99$ at Walmart. It had better hardware than all the androids i went through in the 100$ budget, they still paled in comparison to the 521. So i bought it :P
    2 months in with my first smartphone and im loving the OS <3!!!!!!!! Why only 100$? It's called try living paycheck to paycheck in a poor family.
    And im only 18. My 2 cents :P  
  • I didn't say I read everything. Chill. So OK, you have financial interest. I'll give you my understanding in that. But really, is there anything you can do now? At some point everybody moves on.
    Nokia is in mapping, building cellular network equipment and r&d. So yes they are in mobile, but not anything that has to do in the average consumers mind.
    As for Sony, of course it's my opinion. But it's quite a justifiable one, after owning several Sony phones (and a lot of my friends also). Always freezing, always having issues, always waiting for the 15 days service to fix the device. Sony devices are quite popular in Greece due to them being cheap. But also most of those Sony phone owners have a story like this.
    Best Android OEM for me right now is LG, although many will laugh at this. Then HTC. As for Samsung, I'll agree with you.
  • This in an outstanding news!
    Now i hope that MS also will remove google from the s.e. Options
    in IE in WP massimo
  • SELLING MIXRADIO???? HOW ABOUT SELLING XBOX MUSIC!!!! WHAT THE FUCK MICROSOFT. I'M SO UPSET.
  • @Max-ecs
    They said future MS phones won't have the change search providor option. And i know about the whole Bing vs Google thing
    I'm all for WP (M$ not so much because of their greed)
    But i normally use Google
    It's what im used to, and i normally find what i want on it more immediately.
    I tended to have to scroll a bit on Bing looking for the same things.
  • Damn, I wished I could have written it so well.
  • Well as far as concern about the platform, for me I am a die hard fan of Nokia not microsoft( I hate MS) and going with the rumours if ms drops the Nokia name from their device I will ditch the platform.
    This platform has nothing to offer other than virtual hopes ms os very slow in every aspect they are very slow at bringing the features they are slow in bringing the good hardware in reasonable price band like Motorola is doing they fail in bringing the apps, so why should I buy a windows device when I got everything on Android or Apple, why should I waste my time in waiting for the platform to learn how to grow in the competition based market, when I have everything to taste on other platform.
    THE DAY NOKIA DIED THE SAME WINDOWS/MS DIES AS WELL FOR ME( I AM HEART BROKEN THAT MS IS LAYING OFF 18000 NOKIA EMPLOYEES, FUCK U NADELA) AND I WILL WAIT TILL NOKIA COMES BACK TO SHOW EVERYONE WHOSE THE REAL DADY IS
  • Nooooo, don't sell mixradio! It's a major selling point. Free music is one of the best perks with Lumia Phones!
  • Wow, selling mix radio when your own music app is garbage at best? Idiots.
  • Please buy back mix radio Nokia, I don't want to see it dead.
  • What fools! Mix Radio is available in so many more countries compared to Xbox Music. First expand Xbox music to more countries, then sell Mix Radio. They will lose a significant consumer base in India
  • good news.... go on Microsoft and windows phone.... (+1520)!!!
  • Microsoft should eliminate Xbox music and replace it with mix radio. Xbox music is a POS.
  • Thank goodness that abomination and idea of Nokia X is gone. No sense in wasting efforts there when WP is a viable solution in itself.
  • I use mix radio all the time, it was a big reason why I like Nokia Lumia phones. If they ditch it, another reason not to stay windows phone
  • With the mention of MS focusing on flagships 930 and 1520, I hope icon is being considered as well. I know its only on one network, but it is nearly identical to 930, and one of the only flagships available in a US.
  • Are you kidding me??? Leave MixRadio ALONE!!!!!!!! It's the only music I listen to now on any of my Lumia phones!
  • "Although devices like the Lumia 1520, Lumia 1020 and the newer Lumia 930 are elegant, impressive and competitive, shoppers instead opt for entry-level Lumias." Really?  This could be one of the most asinine comments I've read in a while.  "Shoppers instead opt for entry-level Lumias."?  Hmm... tell me how many Lumia 1020's were sold by Verizon?  Sprint?  TMobile?  Hmm... tell me how many L1520's were sold by Verizon?  Sprint?  TMobile?  Hmm... tell me how many L930's were sold by AT&T?  Sprint?  TMobile?  How the heck can someone buy something that's not even being sold/available by their carrier (US customers)?  What a ridiculous statement.
  • Well for now MixRadio is awesome. Xbox music as an app on their phones sucks a crate of d*cks
  • Overall I'm happy to hear this!!!
  • @Whodaboss Lumia 520 has sold over 12 million units by some date i dont remember xD
    I dont think the L1520s and L1020s have sold as much. :p
  • Yes, I realize the lower end Lumia's have sold well.  But as an owner of low-mid range devices because I'm on TMobile (US) there was no availability for me to purchase a high end device.  And no, I don't count the L925 as high end.  Had the L1020 been offered on TMo I would have purchased that on the first available momemt.  My point is, the so called high end devices are basically only sold on AT&T in the US leaving out countless of other consumers who would have purchased them had it been on their carrier of choice.  So I say bull pucky on the notion they aren't being purchased.  They're not being purchased because there is no availability to purchase.  Or should I say very little chance of that in the US for those who don't want to move to a different carrier.   :/
  • Well if you look around on Ebay or Amazon you could buy a Global Unlocked Variant of the phone
    Wont cost you as much, and since you have TMo you'll know you can transfer SIM numbers to new SIM cards and keep the same number/service. I plan to buy an 'RM-937 Lumia 1520 32 Gb' or 1525/1820 when released and get a nano sim adapter or pick up a sim kit from the TMo store and transfer phone and service from my 521 (love their 30$ plan). Best part since its a global unlocked variant, no need to wait for carrier testing for updates, when MS releases an update ill get it directly from them.
  • And that's my point. Sure I can go to Ebay or elsewhere but the first place I should be able to go is my carrier's store. Most people don't want to go to Ebay or elsewhere. I would suggest most customers want to visit their local stores.
  • Proud 1020 owner here. I'm waiting for the next Lumia flagship and ill probably snag one. What kills WP is carrier exclusivity and lack of marketplace visibility. The Icon (930) should be available on ALL carriers in the US, period. I only speak for me but id never get a mid tier Lumia or other Windows device. Call me a snob but I want the best hardware experience available to other platforms. Android has lots of solid OEM options, Samsung, HTC, LG. Hell, even OnePlusOne, Oppo and even Huawei. If OEM's get on board, no carrier BS and sales associates at the carrier stores who know and describe the different options for all phones and platforms, then you'd see the mobile space truly equalize.
  • I hope this is wrong about Mix Radio or they reconsider. Its a brilliant service I've found lots of great music and purchased a lot. I like xbox music but really the two services are quite different.
  • If i ever am able to afford a "flagship" windows phone
    Id snag the 1525 or the 1820 when they come out, especially as the global factory unlocked variant
    No waiting for freaking carriers to "test" updates and then release it months later
    If its out i get it, win win :3
  • Fuck off Microsoft. MixRadio shits all over your piece of crap music service, no wonder your going to sell it off though, can't have people ignoring the tripe you produce.
  • I now have the dilemma of whether to hold off on an upgrade until Spring. I was hoping McLaren would be the major release for me.....
  • Dan, you said that for MixRadio, the service is no longer being developed, does it mean that the mixes won't be updated until they got some third-party buying it??
  • Now they trust the capabilities of there own operating system.
  • I think it sucks they're killing off Asha. The new Asha 230 series phones rocked and sold a damn lot more than any windows phone. $50 phone unlocked and came with Microsoft services. Dumb decision Microsoft.
  • I want a decent mid-range.
  • If they sell mixradio I am out..
  • nokia x, reminds me much of those early lumia handsets (800, 900, 710, 610) just when we got excited... windows phone 8 came in, announcing discontinued support to WP7. i feel you. i do hope this will be something good for WP. looking forward to it!
  • Successor to the Lumia 1020 confirmed?
  • Seriously?! Mix radio?! Of all MS is selling Mix radio?! MS should close down the Xbox Music instead!
  • Give me something to upgrade to that fits somewhere between my $85 521 and a $600 high end phone please. Why can't there be a Moto G equivalent WP at Moto G prices? I don't feel compelled to move from my 521 to a 530/635, but I don't want to spend $600 on a phone. There are going to be a lot of people like me looking to make an upgrade from a 520/521 soon and $600 phones are probably not going to be the answer for most of us.
  • I had been really looking forward to the Mclaren release when my ATT contract expires in November and had been doing everything possible to clear the decks to be ready to make the upgrade move.   I like both my Nokia 920 and my 1520 but had looked forward to the upgrade.   Now looks like I'm going to have to take a more serious look at the iphone 6 with a 5.5 screen.    Can't beliee that Microsoft waited to pull the plug after all the hype they'd been getting on a new "flagship" phone coming in time for the holidays!    Anything they do now will be anticlimatic.  
  • All I care about is that whatever "Flagship" phone they make, it had better have an SD Card slot.  This whole "comes with 7gig skydrive" crap is garbage.  Carriers are doing everything in their power to reduce the amount of data users get with their plans all while trying to shove data hogging devices in our hands.  I don't want to save my music/files/video/pictures/etc.. to the cloud I want to save it locally so I don't use up my data. I'm still running a lumia 900 but would switch to a 1020 in a heartbeat if it had SD, the camera is amazing but what brainiac decided a 41mp camera only needed a 16gig drive.
  • This sucks. I'm trying to remain loyal to Microsoft since MS products have paid my bills, and I happen to like the platform. The apps just aren't coming in and the phone options are eh. I loved my 1020, was looking forward to an upgraded version with a screen that is common among an other phone not running Windows Phone. My newphew's cheap Android phone w/e it is makes my screen look black and white compared to a his "Super HD"   Very dissapointing/ed, was waiting to use my upgrade and will wait uintil September. Beyond that, I'm likely done with Windows Phone.