Microsoft's Joe Belfiore says Windows 10 Mobile features and hardware are no longer a focus

Windows 10 is awesome on my desktop!  Why wouldn't I want that on my phone?

MS is showing that is cares less and less from consumers (does not see profitablility) and will get further overtaken by Google as they stop trying.  Android the full OS will take over business machines for work.

MS get back to trying....

"Microsoft's Joe Belfiore says Windows 10 Mobile features and hardware are no longer a focus"

I will never buy something one that bears the brand "Microsoft".

Well this story here was the final nail in the coffin for me. I'm a die hard Windows mobile/phone user...I've been using Windows on mobile devices since 2007 but when Joe said this, it was like a slap in the face with a wet fish. I must say, I am bitter - they really messed this whole thing up. I think MS have broken all trust and this bad smell just might linger.

I'm now using a Samsung S8+ and I must say (for anyone who might be considering the switch), it feels good to be on a fully supported platform. I can't see me coming back even if there is some new hardware at see point in the future. My emotional rollercoaster ride has come to an end and I think I'm relieved.

Of course they stop windows 10 mobile since,in 2018, will be "one core" windows and not seperate windows 10 mobile.Of course they will stop producing smartphones since there will be an ultra mobile pc with SIM support and not smartphone!!!Lets hope thats what he means

I'm strongly considering a platform change from Apple to Windows. Which mobile interface will be more robust? I hate having to go through iTunes to interact with my phone, even on OSX. Will the Andoid Launcher be a better interface?

The rumor mill coming from this site is absolutely hillarious! "Meanwhile, Microsoft is rumored to be working on a new "mobile" device codenamed Andromeda, that will launch next year with a version of Windows 10 built with Microsoft's new "Windows Core OS" platform." Your own headline states "Microsoft's Joe Belfiore says Windows 10 Mobile features and HARDWARE are no longer a focus"  Here's one (rumor) for you, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to be replaced by recently discovered Sasquatch found riding a Unicorn!  Or how about this one, Satya Nadella is found to be the mythical one eyed one horned purple people eater and has decimated the whole staff in Redmond WA.  Fact: After donating 38% of his Microsoft holdings Bill Gates now has only 1.3% of MS stock.  Did he see the writing on the wall?  Here's my prediction/rumor, MS will be a penny stock once the W10 WAAD (Windows as a Disservice) is no longer supported in 2025.

Screw Microsoft's Mobile departmetns. Wow, I feel completely screwed by Microsoft. I owned 6 different Windows Phone devices and 6 Windows Mobile PocketPC/HPC devices (throuhg HPC 1.0 to PocketPC 6.5...Pre-phone).  We were told the WORLD, it's coming, more apps, more devices and here we are....

My Nokia ICON will be the last Microsoft Mobile device I will ever own. Never will buy any of their Laptops or Surface devices.  The ONLY think i will buy is gaming related (xbox) as I am a gamer.

I guess Microsoft is too big to fail.... but, if they keep doing this to consumers.. it would be a matter of time before it hits their bottom line.

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Even IF they woulda coulda shoulda ship a Surface Phone I will not buy it. I simply do not trust Mocrosoft to be stable in the smart phone business. Ass soon as they see any resistance they retreat and go back to Windows software for servers and desktop and their Xbox business. It is okay, it is business. I love my Lumia 950 XL but it will be my last and I will get a Samsung S7 edge or someting like it within a very short time. Microsoft has clearly shown me that they ship a system and then abandon it over time. Win 7 phones, Win 8 phones and now Win 10 mobile phones. Lucky for me that I came from an Android phone to Win 10 mobile. The swicth will be pretty easy for me.

What people are missing is how this should be a huge advantage for anybody who's concerned about privacy. You have a platform people are fleeing, nobody is going to be targeting their users, or writing malware for this platform anymore (if they ever were). You have the convenience of being able to rid yourself of intrusive Google products. The best upside besides all of those? Oh yeah, it's going to be supported for at least another decade or more with patches and updates.

If you can live without a million apps and games on your phone, I'd move immediately to using Windows Mobile 10.

If anything, this is GREAT news for people concerned about privacy and not wanting to support Google anymore.

Come on, we already know this when Satya killed the Nokia division last year. This news also means that Panos has not been able to create a "Surface Phone" that everyone can agree is gonna blow the iPhone and Note 8 out of the water.

That said, I just bought a Elite X3 and I'm pretty happy with it. The pictures from it are ok. Though I will take my 950XL out when on vacation.

Many of the apps still work. Nothing is truly broken. I look at the iPhone 8/X or the Note 8 and it's meh all around.

Just see what Andromeda OS is. If it's a real Windows 10 Embedded OS, then there's a chance someone will make a phone out of it so long as the cellular stack is still in the Windows 10 codebase. Rumours are it was removed from Redstone 3. No news since then.

They need to put a serious focus on revenue generating apps and every day use apps by consumers.

Outlook Only Contacts App. Contacts syns with Android is absolutely garbage.

Photos- Photo sync with albums on Windows 10 has to go through a clunky OneDrive. They need to make one that syncs everything.

Movies and TV - This is going to be the next service that dies out if they do not make an android, Chromecast compatable, app.

Maps - Why would we use the Maps on the computer if we cant on our phone when we need them? Needs a Send To Phone option also.

SMS - either add it to Skype, or create one that syncs with our PC.

Dialer - Bring the WP10 dialer to Android

Microsoft Wallet - I do not want to give any money to Google, and Samsung Pay is good, but I want it all on one account.

Not that this development is surprising given all that had been previously discussed in this n other fora.
Maybe a wish for a means to flash our more recent Windows Phones to other OS's is outlandish. That could be a fair palliative for many who have stuck with the platform all this while.

I'm disappointed in the demise of the platform. But I'm looking forward to building out on Android.

I have access to all three platforms, but I choose to use a Lumia 950 XL as my daily driver and will continue to do so for as long as possible. In my opinion, Windows 10 Mobile is the best phone for pure business productivity. When you lay all three platforms side-by-side, Windows 10 Mobile is the most modern looking OS by far. I use Live Tiles to have quick and convenient access to the documents I rely on to do my job. I hope the Andromeda project is real.

At one point I am sure at this moment. I will never buy an Microsoft product again. Not for myself, not for my company. We are using many Windows Phones, mostly for better productivity and we liked their mobile devices. But buying a product from a company that just dont care any more is a no-go for me. No apps  - no further upgrades! This must be a joke! You have people that are buying your products!! Products that you sell!! A shame!!!

Microsoft should have extended Belfiore's vacation idefinitely. He never brought anything good to Windows Phone.

Until last week I was a Windows 950 phone user.  I switched to Windows after the iPhone 4s, and now I'm on the iPhone 8 Plus.  I guess I made the switch back at the right time.  I'm disappointed.  I really loved the live tiles and was hoping for the Surface Phone.

Does this mean we will now see a Windows Central App on the iPhone?

It occurs to me that while Microsoft may continue to push out bug fixes for the WM10 platform, at what point will they shut down the app store as HP did with the WebOS store? If wasted resources is the issue here, i suspect it will be shut down within a year -two at the most.

I will continue to use my devices until they stop working or no longer suit me and then will evaluate the alternatives. It seems to me however, that Microsoft repeated the error that lead to the demise of Windows Mobile and that is trying to put a desktop experience on a mobile device. Yes, it may work, but the experience will always suck and the point is that most people use their mobile devices very differently than their desktop devices. If Apple were to do the same thing, it would probably kill IOS too. Add to that the instability of the UWA and here we are... The end of a good platform.

At least my Lumia 950 XL can still make/receive calls and send/receive text messages and take good pictures for now... I guess it will last a year or more max and then I give all Windows Phone daaaa finger for good and go all in with some Android again or parhaps even go to bed with the sexy enemy called Iphone. Can't see the need for any Surface Phone or other Windows 10 (mobile) phone system again as they have obviously given us the fans and supporters daaaa finger now. Such a shame. The Lumia 950 phones were(are) really beatiful phones and the hardware specs were really awesome. 

Kind of hoped that the Surface Phone would be something awesome like that just with better specs and more apps.... Well what a bummer.... Still love my Lumia 950 XL though, not gonna trash it today, gonna use it for some time for sure...

pushing folks to droid or iOS who don’t want to go there is a heck of a way to run a business. If there was something else in the pipeline, why wasn't that mentioned yesterday.

The thing that I find strange here is people saying I'm switching all in to Android, or to Apple ecosystem.  MS has developed there apps so that they work on any ecosystem.  Therefore why go all in to a single ecosystem ?

 

It makes sense to go part in therefore you are not fully embedded into a singular system, becuase when they choose to burn you (and sadly they all will at some time) you are reasonably protected.

 

Google might burn you with there privacy rules, Apple becuase of there over priced products or lack of integration with other devices (non apple) etc....

 

I run a Surface Book, Galaxy Note 5 (work) and Galaxy S8 (personal) along with Google Music, Outlook, O365 Family, and One Drive as my storage, Cortana App (for work and synching to my Pc) and Google Assistant (for my car).

 

All play nice because what MS has done and has allowed in regards to there products, so maybe we as consumers need to think is it correct to go one system only ??

Am I the only one to think this Microsoft step is compleatly untolerable? I think there is only ONE option for to avoid a huge electronic waste and doesn't dig into our pockets! Please make a bit of noise if you agree, on twitter :

#BringAndroidToLumia

 

I have been using an Iphone 6, an Android on Mashmallow and a Nokia 735. 

The iOS is locked in and Android OS is too open. Both are messy POS!

Even though the hardware specs of the Nokia falls far below the Iphone and the Android, Windows Mobile is still easier to use and more reliable.

It is a crying shame that MS is dropping Windows Phone just when they have finally ironed out many of the kinks.

Just goes to show how even with a superior product, MS will somehow find a way to shoot themselves in the foot!

Quoting from Oct 9 from Business Insider. Granted it's about Surface devices, but it's the idea that had me laughing so hard I nearly cried.

"Microsoft's response to the device's flop: It just made them try harder, Panay said.
"There was no loss of confidence," he said. "There was a real belief in how we can change the world."

Uninstalled the W10M's Mobile Nations Windows Central app because this site stopped supporting W10M and their app stopped working properly but they can't be bothered to fix it which says a lot about both Mobile Nations and Microsoft and W10M I suppose.

The lesson to take away from this Microsoft mobile phone fiasco is never to buy into anything Microsoft try to sell you ever again! The company simply cannot be trusted.
They certainly seem to have lost direction in recent years and are hanging on with core desktop OS and enterprise for the time being using the general public as their free test bed.
I suspect in due course Google or some other enterprise will introduce a new desktop OS that does for the PC what Android did for Mobile and it will be goodbye MSFT.

Sounds like plug going to be pulled on Surface.

Well, that just about settles it. Microsoft is to become a third tier company. What can they offer besides Office to the general user? Xbox, nah! OneDrive, why? Seriously Belfiore and Nutella have run up the whote flag. No entry point, no upgrade path. Just pathetic. The MS board made a seriously bad decisiom when they appointed Nutella. In future management students will study this as an example of how to screw a once great company. 

Until my banks apps works im fine.
When banks apps stop support i moved to ios. Its so sad wm die, i still dont like ios and android coz both like garbage, but apps support good

It is a shame though sadly no surprise.  I liked the Windows Phone interface and how it all worked together was great.  But as I have always said I owe no loyalty to any billion dollar corporation I will use what is best for me so I jumped ship a while ago.  Still I loved my Lumia 920 and its amazing camera and OneDrive/SkyDrive camera roll.  Too bad it never gained the traction I think it deserved.  I am sorry MS played with people this long.

I recently upgraded from 8.1 (my 1520 finally broke and I got a 650) and damn W10M is horrid!!!!!!!  Cortana seems stupid now, outlook says nothing has arrived yet on the regular and the entire hot mess is god awfulllllll slow.  App gap aside, how can you go from the best of the best to the worse of the worse.  WTF'nF   SO SAD   

Oh, my comment...    Does it really even matter anymore!

This is where I have to wonder again about the decision to drop the Android subsystem from Mobile. The original reason made sense, but not once Belfiore himself is deciding to throw in his Windows device in order to gain Android apps.

How does Microsoft have someone in charge there that does not want to support it's products? build a mobile and people will buy. it is nearly impossible to buy

OMG don't tell me MS are going to bring out an Android phone?!

Another failed salesman, his position, like Satyas, is quickly becoming untenable.

Not surprising. Glad they finally came out and just said it. The app gap is probably insurmountable at this point.  I lament the passing of Windows (10) Mobile, but eagerly await their next project.

Hey do these MS execs understand that those who left and are being told to leave don't want anything more to do with MS simply because of how poorly they supported the Windows OS on smartphones. Seriously do they really think that moving over to Android or IOS will still make those swapped users want MS apps on their devices bar Outlook email and MS office. You've lost the masses and believe they really wanna hear you when you talk about your services on rival OSes. They left because they want 0 to do with you. Despite those who post here saying they still want MS services, that's great but that pales in comparison to the millions using google and apple services as each day goes by that MS shuts down another feature or app.

Gee Wizzy poo No Surface phone. Good thing I waited to build new PC with Windows. I will wait till my 950 xl dies and suck as much as I can out of MS and then switch ecosystem. I'm on road most of the time and use phone for most things until I get home. So I have to Decide if its MAC and iPhone ECO or settle for Android crap. Apple and Google are paying MS to layoff on building phones to support there hardware.

I should feel sad or disapointment or upset or angry. but im indiferent i feel nothing about it anymore

Well this sucks. Dark days for Windows Mobile. I love the OS and especially the camera and backup options, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to stay with Windows Phone. Not sure if I should hold out hope for a surface phone or just jump ship to Android.....I really don't want to leave the Windows ecosystem though. :(

I'm waiting for this failed platform to just die off and become less relevant than BlackBerry.

Now this is ****** news. I love my phone but seeing this is real painful as that will scare all the app devs even more and perhaps even make them shut down the good ones left. Written from a Lumia 950 XL.

I don't knee jerk around with my phone purchases based on comments in the press. Hence, I am on my 3rd smart phone. Samsung Focus for W7, Lumia 810 for W8, and Lumia 650 for W10. Only a change of operating systems has caused me to buy a new phone. So I will stay with my Lumia 650 and Windows Mobil until either my phone dies or MS quits supporting it. Same is true with my wife's Lumia 650. I purposely went cheap this last time with the 650 rather than the 950 because it looked as though we were heading into transition period of time. App count has always been a bull **** statistic and excuse. The most important Apps have web sites that can be run using Edge on my phone creating it's own tile, but as a web site they are not counted as an App. The rest of the Apps (95%) are worthless and redundant anyway. Having a person from MS use App participation as an excuse proves MS clueless, hoping you are stupid enough to believe it's someone else's fault and not their own ineptness. Lack of Smart Marketing by MS killed their phone.

I totally understand Bellifore's position. Sometimes you give it your all and it still isn't enough. That being said, Microsoft should focus on android and modernizing it. I'm talking a full reskin for a launcher, microsoft's keyboard with the nib, live tile-like apps, especially as apps get dynamic resizing. Etc.

Android and iOS still visually look quite outdated, especially with the grid layout for the home screen, and lock screen notifications spread out. I want Microsoft to open remote launch features for droid and IOS, so they can work similarly to apps like Readit.

Steve Ballmer is to blame for this whole debacle.  Could you imagine where Microsoft would be if he'd have decided they were going to build their own PCs, and pulled the Windows OS from the OEMs like he did Windows mobile?

I'm looking for a cheaper up x3 with the lapdock. Who cares if the OS is dead, it works great for my needs. I use my windows phones everyday for one reason or another. This news hurts my soul, but I'll continue with my windows phones until the bitter end

I only came to windows phone 1.5 years ago. I watched the 950 release and was impressed but didn't buy it at the time. Bought a used one later. I was an iPhone and android user previously and I tried out WP because it really was a unique experience. Needless to say the ride is over before it really began for me.

It's not really good for us consumers only have two major phone os vendors to choose from but you never know.

Consumer market can be really fickle, and enterprise has ebbs and flows. I wouldn't put myself in a position where enterprise was my only bread and butter. I'm. Seriously considering going the Google route-you need a special exemption to use windows there. Either go all Mac or go back to a Linux distro.

Folks get ready for the next Microsoft smart phone TA DA. it will have the famous Microsoft Tiles interface and it will have Microsoft Office and other  Microsoft made software in it's software catalog but OH NO it's an Android OS smart Phone and it has all the Google Play store Apps . Bill Gates is happy about this. Whoa Nelly there is also a Android Tablet that has the Microsoft modern UI tiles. Hmm looks like Microsaoft is converting Android to be Windows clone devices Ha HA HA. MS CEO Nadella is smiling.

Personally I'm lookjing forwrd to the Andromeda phone / ultra mobile PC.  Of course there may still be an app gap becaseu a lot of companies do not create app for Windows 10 either,

Now was that so hard it couldn't have been said MONTHS ago so we didn't have to wonder what the hell Microsoft was up to with their Windows phone platform?

To all (here at WindowsCentral and all the stupid news channels who picked this story up), read the tweets. W10M is no longer a focus for MS because they are working on something else! They are making a new mobile phone enabled device in a new category so the wont have to compete with Apple / Google. Do you really think MS will stop being present in the mobile market? Mobile is the new PC, their core business next to cloud / enterprise. MS will never leave the mobile space, it would be the same if Ford stops putting engines in cars or MC Donalds stops with French fries and hamburgers.

Im guessing MS will not wait very long with some kind of communication about this because the tweets from Mr. Belfiore are misinterpreted and thats killing.

Microsoft, despite all previous assurances that Windows Mobile is important (and promising at least one new device per year,) has decided to hit <ALT>+F4 instead of Refresh.  Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft has done some backroom deal with Google since they seem to be pushing Android more.  As I've written before, if Microsoft doesn't want Windows in the device that the average person uses about five hours a day, then why have any Windows at all?

I'm afraid existing wp users are going to find their handsets useless much sooner than the end of 2018. FB, including Instagram and other apps just won't bother to update now. If you just want to call or text then fine!

We knew all along, that's why I jumped ship

I came to Windows Central for news and updates about my phone. Guess I'll need to check out the Android and iPhone sites now. Sad.

Time for another name change? Microsoft Central? Xbox Central?

This is ****** news. No more windows 10 mobile for me. Written from my Lumia 950 XL

Ugh thank God. Maybe the collective nonsense about the Surface phone can finally stop and everyone can wake from this nonsense dellusion (admitedly this was Ballmer's fault - he got confused too) that Microsoft is some sort of consumer electronics comapnuny a la Apple. 

Well, either MS is doing a calculated change in business like IBM did years ago or is making a biiiiig mistake.
Let me give my example: I switched to android 4 months ago, fed up with the uncertainty and lack a of options in WM10. So, 4 months later I am on the verge of letting all apps from A MS go. Google options are great, they are faster and better integrated with the OS and, oh yes, I am thinking of canceling my office subscription. Have you used Google docs. They work! Oh, and I have tested a Chrome book. Works great with cheaper hardware.
Do we need MS? Not me.
I think there will be lots of experiences like mine. And there is the issue of betrayal from MS. Remember Balmer? Did anyone said Balmer was bad for Microsoft. Let's see how Nadella will leave MS.

Now how about developing an app for Android that mimics the Windows Mobile OS. (Tiles and all) I would install it.

Also the Microsoft launcher isn't going to magically turn a phone into a Windows device. Most will just use the default services.

So now I wonder how long until the Store and UWP gets cut.

Well, this is an unfortunate but necessary business decision. The market determines what products will succeed but not necessarily which ones are the best. I enjoyed my Windows Phones greatly. Everyone who saw them was impressed with the striking appearance compared to an iPhone. I would suggest that low usage and the scarcity of apps were the product of the real cause; i.e., that Microsoft simply does not have the brand equity or cachet to compete in the consumer mobile platform and device space. Ironically, their mobile apps for Android and iOS do quite well because that is where the market is willing to accept Microsoft for now.

The market places limitations on each of the major tech companies. For example, Google is received well in search and mobile but their social media and messaging platforms (Google +, Allo, and Duo) are not broadly received. Likewise, Apple is huge in consumer mobile and media services but not so much in professional productivity. And they won’t even try to compete in search or social media (remember Ping?). Amazon has retail and limited device success (e.g., Kindle) but no chance for a phone presence. The market simply does not receive them there.

Microsoft is trying to find its place in the consumer market right now. They conceded the phone platform market but can succeed as a developer for Android and iOS. They are trying to compete for the living room with the Xbox One given that it is a top tier gaming device that people can also use for Blu-ray as well as apps for online digital media services. That is why the Store is keeping Films and TV for now. This provides similar value but key differentiation from Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku although at a higher price. With apps like Spotify covering the music service on Xbox, the user generally has a good experience in the living room.

I am not sure the UWP apps will succeed on Windows 10, although it has a better chance for success there than on phones. But the market is not really responding despite gaining Spotify, iTunes, and a host of other good apps. I see people basically ignoring it all together. I suggest this is the next most vulnerable part of Microsoft’s product offerings to go if it does not improve. In addition, I think the live-tile UI could also be phased out. Most people see it for the first time on Windows 10 and do not have a clue what to do with it so they also ignore it for the most part.

I seriously regret gettting the 950 but thats okay though. I'm going to swtich to T-mobile from ATT and have them pay off the rest of my phone so I can get the LG V30.  

I can't continue to support windows mobile when their own company doesnt even support it. 

Good bye windows 10 mobile, it's been alright. 

 

 

 

If a Surface phone 📱 is coming for sure not rely on existing apps on windows store. This phone will be able to install Android and/or iOS apps for sure.

     

kingtigre

 

Just add telephony into Windows 10 and get out of the OEM's way. Microsoft, you can't tell your @$$ from a hole in the ground, you sure as heck can't handle this. Add telephony, and let OEMs make computers with phones built in. Surface-like devices that take phone calls. That's what I need. Truly 1 device to carry around. I don't need a tiny screen in my pocket, I just need to be able to answer SMS and phone calls. Everything else is a better experience on Surface-sized screens anyway. E-mail, Movies, Games, Office, Web browsing. It's not that I WANT to use 5" screens, it's that no one has bothered to give me a big enough screen to really get $#!+ done. 

Do iPads with LTE sell well? You bet your sweet @$$ they do. And if they took calls, people would buy up those dumb iBuds/iHeadsets/iWhatevertheyarecalled and stop buying iPhones. THAT is why they don't do it. 

Now that you don't have a viable mobile product at all, just add telephony to Windows 10. Just do it. You literally have nothing to lose.

Replied to wrong thread.

Yes, this confirms what we've been expecting for months...I'm still using a Lumia 735 on Verizon and it still works... However, with this confirmation of Windows 10 Mobile's future, I see no reason to wait until I receive an "end of Support" notice from Microsoft before getting an Android phone. It should be remembered that MS paid billions to buy Nokia only a few years ago...hard to imagine a company willing to absorb a loss like that.

Best, Allen

 

Confirming what we already knew...I hope this works out for them. I guess I will continue my plunge into Android. This argument that they are using for Windows 10 Mobile holds true for Windows 10 as well. I wonder how much longer Windows will be a priority versus just having services supported on other platforms.

All I want is a stable and mostly bug free operating system, an ecosystem which includes mobile devices and some sort of affirmation that I can rely on the usability of the features and apps which define the current OS to be available in the future. Microsoft doesn't offer any of this, Google only partially and Apple all of them. Hence it's now time for me to forget about Microsoft and move on to Apple. Wonder why I haven't done this decades ago, it certainly would have been a much better experience compared what I had to endure with MS's awkward products.

Belfiore has no place in Microsoft.
Everything he has touched he has ruined it, Windows Phone, Cortana, Edge. What's next?  

Who the hell keeps him there? What kind of contract does he have? 

Just too sad over here sad. 😢

It's really sad but I love Windows Mobile (tried android & ios and came back to WP again), so will continue to use my 950 XL & 640 XL until they both are inoperable.

Ease the minds of the last few users? More like abandon any MS mobile platform of any kind going forward. I am not so much upset as simply amazed that they do not realize that when they are pointing a finger, 3 are pointing back at them. They alone are the reason Windows Phone and Mobile died and nothing else.

It seems the harder we complain about MIcrosoft's abandonment of Windows Phone, the more the company sends out spin masters to convince us that we are wrong. Microsoft should realize that the comments here in support of Windows Phone represent the opinions of many more people than those who actually blog. The company should read and reflect on the passion here for its products and admit that they have made a blunder. People who actually love the Windows mobile ecosystem should get real vocal - FB, Twitter, etc and let the world know that we are witnessing not only a stupid corporate mistake but potentially other issues which could place the matter in front of a court of law. If they knew that they were going to kill the platform, why bother to promote new devices such as the Elite 3 & Idol 4S? I bet HP, Alcatel and T-Mobile are ticked off. The long and slow wind down smells of a conspiracy to defraud and promises made to support Windows on mobile as people were continuing to buy into their ecosystem look like a breach of trust. At first I laughed when someone joked about asking them for a refund for the money we've spent on Windows phones. But, I own a VW diesel and recently received a check for over 5 thousand bucks from VW in that legal case involving emissions. No, I'm not advocating that we do that. But I do hope that everyone who loves Windows Phone (whatever version) will be proactive and show support for the platform. A small vocal minority can effect changes, even to a major corporation. Obviously, MIcrosoft's head is in the cloud, not around real people who like their stuff. Windows Phone didn't fail. Microsoft failed to market it. After seeing wireless vendor's failure to promote any Windows phone, MIcrosoft should have focused on selling the phones primarily throught their stores. I would buy the $199 Idol 4S today, if I had any belief that Microsoft was committed to mobile. Nadella and other senior leadership should take the time to read what people are saying on this and similiar blogs. It's not ALL about money. Yes, a company has to turn a profit. It didn't give phones enough time. Finally, the hardware is catching up with Microsoft's ahead of its time software. Promises made by the company not withstanding, just think of all of the possibilities that have been lost because they don't realize that line item profits shouldn't short circuit great ideas. I believe that an outpouring of support for the ecosystem might convince an otherwise great and inventive company that changed the world to remember the folks who put it there.

Does anyone think that Microsoft ever bother to read forums like this one? They don't seem to care. Satya's heart is completely in the clouds. Zune 1, 2 and HD, Samsung windows phone, Windows CE, MS Band, and soon, Surface line of products, to name a few! Heads need to roll at Microsoft!!!

When I showed this article to my Lumia friend who has been stopped to suggest me to buy Lumia phone again. I felt happy to see his pity face.

Because I already have an Lumia which has been outdated after Creators Update and decided to buy an Android mobile.

-------
I hope w10m will be a stable and flawless in future years.

Good Luck MS/w10m

RIP RIP RIP. Let's stop crying for the deceased and move on.

Shame, I have been with WP since Symbian on the Nokia N8. 

I don't understand this reasoning. You either should said surface phone or any other phone like device will never happen and then w10 on the phone is really dead and everybody should move on. Or whatever form of windows will be on that device, from user's perspective, it will be simply a next win 10 mobile version however you call it. Application platform will be UWP - the same as on current win 10 mobile and thats what counts. In that case it makes sense to wait.

The guys at cupertino will have a bright future with all the millions new customers coming from the Microsoft ecosystem to Apple 

I'll still keep rockin my 950XL.

Who cares anymore. After all of the previous dropped hardware, I sure would not invest in anything else that Microsoft sells. I currently own a 950 XL and previously several win 8 and win 7 phones. Fool me once, Shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me.

blackberry 10 had native android runtime... why microsoft couldn't do it??why they killed project astoria so fast??? app situation could have been better and atract more useres to the platform. of course ....blackberry is also dead but... lumia phones had better market share. why they abadon everything??

It’s pretty obvious that Microsoft’s energies are in the cloud, windows desktop/server, virtualisation and office these days. They want to be the platform that everything is built on. Heck they even went to the trouble of integrating Linux with Windows!

 

Why? IMO Microsoft’s internal culture has never lent itself as a consumer product company, although there have been attempts to pivot in this direction. Nadella is a product of this (pardon the pun) and I don’t get the intuition that he get’s the consumer space, and simply manages by the numbers.

 

Imagine if Apple took Michael Dell’s advice to shut down in the late 90s? The Mac and OSX are foundations for future products, Microsoft doesn’t entirely share that view from a consumer device perspective - they simply want to be enablers for everyone else - ensuring it’s own longevity in an IBM manner.

 

It feels like every time someone in MS comes up with a cool consumer product in shippable or near shippable form (think Courier, Windows mobile etc) - marketing just doesn’t follow suit and ends up floundering in the marketplace - or dies and doesn’t even see the light of day. God knows how Xbox has avoided that fate.

 

Xbox is a strange outlier, hololens looks cool at the moment but I’m sure a leapfrog moment from Apple, Google or someone else is just around the corner which will make hololens and its narrow field of view look yesteryear - and I’m sure someone will come up with an AR/VR launcher that makes Kipman’s ‘Cliffhouse’ look as stupid as Microsoft bob. Hololens looked and still looks great - but I feel that Microsoft are treating it as a pet project and are being very risk averse… using the underlying technologies as a base/set of frameworks for other OEMs to showcase their wares - however google could do the exact same thing and no one will give a damn about windows.

 

I’m not a hater - I’m an old time Microsoft user, been in the tech game for years (since the amiga/atari/16-bit days) and while I’m not wedded to one particular technology company, Microsoft is one that never fails to innovate early, then shoot itself in the foot - it’s frustrating as someone who has had windows phones/w10m through all iterations, windows mobiles (from the very first Orange SPV/HTC Canary), and a bunch of surfaces.

 

They also take a very USA centric view - for example at it’s peak, Windows phone was at 10%+ in EU5, and Nokia (as a brand) was a key driver of this. Microsoft should have owned the Nokia brand and used it to further itself (brand as in an equal to xbox), but they never took that opportunity because in the USA Nokia was never a major player.

 

Anyhow, over the years I remember no one wanted to touch apple - but as the geeks grew up, became IT managers and generally involved in tech, they brought along the products they personally used - hence why you see many youngish companies, startup like dev teams etc all embrace Macs. UWP will end up dieing too - the primary use case was mobile with delivery through an App Store. The catalyst for this type of packaging and delivery were mobile phones and now Microsoft is out of that business.

 

Sometimes you should put your trust in companies who are consistent in their product approach. If you want a phone, get an android or iPhone - decide what you prefer and take it from there - they’re in it for the long haul. Microsoft can’t be trusted. Too many people have been burned by them over the years. Imagine how pissed you would be if you worked tirelessly at HP on the Elite X3 and Microsoft dumped you! Imagine if you worked at BSkyB, egged on by Microsoft to use Silverlight as your web player only to be screwed over once you launched! Microsoft creates a lot of ill will. I don’t know why no one in that organisation can see the obvious.

 

Also - mr belfiore I’m sure was one of those guys whose job it was to evangelise and get windows mobile to the masses. How does someone like that get to keep their job?! He was always one of the faces of windows phone, and he screwed up, went on a sabbatical only to come back and conclude that the towel must be thrown in. Keeping old guard guys like him in a job at MS are what kills it.

 

I wonder what this will do to non-mobile issues - things like home automation, which are often app or phone based. Will windows loose its edge in this sector as well? And if that is the case are we simply moving towards slow irrelevance at worse or minimized utility at best....

I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED - that it had been their focus until yesterday!

I purchased a Lumia 950 believing words of Microsoft that they are developing the phone. Widows phone had about 10 %market share three years ago. Microsoft alone is to be blamed for downfall of their market share. It has no consistent and aggressive marketing policy. Their existing market share dwindled as they failed to introduce new phones.
After making one step forward, they put three steps backward.
Which app developer will invest money in windows mobile when Microsoft itself was not confident about their project.
It is true that Microsoft had invested much money for this software but they failed because they packed consistent policy. They minds were pulled in different directions
It will be very just on part of Microsoft if they provide necessary tools to existing customers to install android in their phones. I had purchased this Lumia 950 for huge price. But has no use now.
I feel cheated by Microsoft.

Does this really require an explanation? I left the platform years ago but kinda feel sorry for the people who stuck it out and had their emotions played with for all this time.

Microsoft is dreaming. Very few will bigger with their services on iOS or Android. I used and liked the on Windows Mobile but after an initial attempt, moved to Google services. Being baked on matters. There is no mobile strategy without a platform. There are apps like OneNote, but no overarching set of services.

Now I know how Palm users felt. 

The circumstances were difficult, but Microsoft has only themselves to blame. Here in Europe the Lumia 5/6-series were quite a success in the budget segment and the 820 (the one with the big camera) was not a top seller, but you could spot it regularly.

The few phones after that lacked the standout design with the bright colors and had boring specs. The Lumia 950 was bland and after that Microsoft didn't even try. Add to that that Windows 10 was in quite a few respects a step back compared to WP8 and failure was a given. There are even some things that Microsoft still has to fix: the crappy Microsoft Store and its mysterious and fickle ways of downloading files and the anemic language support of Cortana.

Does this mean that MS is dropping the Andromeda OS???  It has been advertised to bring desktop capabilities to mobile (W10 on ARM), and while it won't be called Windows "mobile", that is simply semantics.  I have no plans to change to less capable iOS or G**gle crap.

It just seems to go from bad to worse. This is for me especially sad and disturbing. Several years ago I decided to stack my career on Microsoft and Windows. I became a Windows developer. I missed the first wave of Windows Mobile some years ago. But when Windows Phone 7 came out I was all in. I had hoped to get into WP development, but struggled with it. Then sort of a comedy of errors occurred, only no one was laughing. I was one of the many who lost his job in the Great Recession. That period of unemployment lasted much longer than I anticipated. I had previously joined Microsoft's mobile incentive to develop for Windows Phone, but being unemployed meant that getting a new job was more important. Keeping food on the table and a roof over my family's head was top priority. When a job finally came out it was hellaciously far away with a very long commute on a train with no WiFi. My laptop, a Sony VAIO, although only a couple of years old wouldn't support Windows 10 when it came out, thanks to Sony/VAIO turning its back on that model of laptop (Sony, you've permanently lost a customer). So, I couldn't develop for Windows Mobile nor even Windows 10, even if I could have had access to the Internet to pull down NuGet packages or GitHub code.

I really saw that mobile was where it was at. I also find UWP to be quite compelling. I finally got my first Windows 10 app into the Store for both desktop and phone. But Belfiore's comments/tweets makes me wonder if I've just wasted my time. And more fundamentally, chosen the wrong path for a technology to hitch my wagon to?

 

I guess at this point I'm sticking with my WP for the same reason I'm driving my car.  It works, and it's paid for.  

Belfiore tried to justify very hard to justify their departure. But he did not mention the real reason. Satye hated it. Surface is next. He doesn't appreciate consumer's loyalty. He is a software guy. He loves to make apps. He doesn't understand what is to keep fighting. Veo sad

Eelfiore

Wow, I'm so glad I switched to an S8 this weekend instead of paying $500 for the Elite X3. Microsoft had such a great thing going, and then they stopped trying after they bought Nokia's hardware division. All they had to do was release slightly more powerful phones each year until they had that game changing device they're supposedly working on. Oh well, at least I was forced to switch at the time when MS is bringing a lot of services to Android. Hopefully myTube comes to Android. I hate the stock YouTube app.

Without mobile, Microsoft is dead. I hate to say it but people on iOS/Android don't care about Microsoft apps or services, or at least the majority don't. Edge will drown on those platforms because other browsers are more popular and certainly better than Edge.

What I don't understand is all the support by consumers to create a monopoly in the mobile industry, and especially one controlled by Google.

I'll continue to use my Windows Phone until it no longer works. Sadly I'm not confident in Microsoft's claim that they have a mobile device in the works for the future, or at least one that will bring enough people back to Microsoft. If they did, they sure as hell wouldn't be driving/pushing their customers away. I'm hoping that I'll have a Windows powered device to replace my phone in the near future, otherwise I'll have to resort to a basic phone.

Just stop adding new bugs!
Thanks

Apple's iMessage implementation is their cashcow keeping users locked to the platform. Android comes in second for those fed up with iOS, but really there is no room for a third spot as we all know. I have no doubts Apple wouldn't be where it is today without iMessage.. why can't we find a way to bring that pillar down?

They should've announced this months ago. It's good that they did though. When my sister gets a new phone I'll take her old Android, very excited for that. The only reason to keep my Lumia is for the camera and video, which are still pretty good.

I want Belfiore Fired before he has the opportunity to kill off something else that consumers like.....well a few consumers

Its old news that new features and new hardware on W10M is no longer a focus, its communicated months ago.

I dont have Twitter but the most important question we should ask him: IS there any news about Andromeda or Cshell or Windows Core OS thats running on phone enabled portable devices? Can someone post this to Twitter?

Its pretty simple, they want one OS Win10 on all devices supporting apps and normal executables. MS will keep their focus on Mobile devices but not with W10M but with one Win10 for all devices. They will never stop with mobile devices because they will never kill their own OS Win10 and more and more people mainly use phones and tablets. 

Sold out! (Confirmation)

Also, for years, MacOS was barely 10% of the desktop market but Apple never let their base customers down. So it does not matter how low WinMo share of the market is. Loyalty is very hard to earn! So Microsoft, you have lost me...this time for good; including my customer, my friends, my family.

"Microsoft's Joe Belfiore says Windows 10 Mobile features and hardware are no longer a focus"

And nobody talks about resignations ??
Strange

I think we are being trolled by semantics.  What if MS released a new form factor, foldable “Surface Pocket” Windows Core OS on ARM that was able to run Android apps?

Why even bother to using Microsoft apps on iOS or Android? Tomorrow, they might give up on other mobile apps because they have no loyalty toward customers, even though they snobbishly ask for customer's loyalty. Shame on Microsoft!

After this, Microsoft is on its way to demise. No more trust is coming from anyone. Well, that is it for me. And for MS as well. I just wish they ended and go bankrupt!

sad.

worried about Windows and Surface now.

 

Sad

I'll switch back to my old SonyEriccson before using Android or iOS. Both of them are terrible. You have to pay a lot of money to get a usable phone...

This is why as a developer, I can't look at their AR offerings with any enthusiasm. I just know they'll ditch it in a few years so what's the point getting on board and wasting my time? Omly last year they were urging developers to update their apps to work with continuum and that went absolutely nowhere. WM 6 to Windows Phone 7,8,8.1, 10 went through so many SDK/platform reboots that funnily enough developers got tired of rewriting all the apps. W10 IoT seems to have been forgotten too. Project Spark... ditched. Integration with Here Maps.. ditched.. so and and so on. Bot Framework will be next.

Really cute seeing this trending on Twitter like "Omg, Microsoft puts the nail in the coffin! They even paid devs to write apps!!!"

You don't say we've known this for over a year lol

 

Don't leave this on the middle of the road. People and developers are not interested because of most of features are not available or missing, after two ✌ years of development. OS also full of bug 🐛. I think Microsoft rethink they're decision. I'm also fan of windows 10 mobile. Please don't leave the development. I'm still using my Lumia 950 xl my main phone.

Microsoft - "We are no longer concentrating on our own mobile platform with software or hardware". 

Windows Central - "Keep coming to our site to read about Microsofts upcoming mobile device".

Only on WC. Haha. 

I actually like what Microsoft is doing on Android.  But I'll never use it for a few reasons.  One is that Microsoft does not support the SD card on Android, for any of their apps.  So you need a high end device to make it worth your while.  The other is that the apps are bigger than Google's own apps for Android.  And Google has tied up OEM phones so that anyone with a device that can still turn on can get a really, really, good experience, even if they're running KitKat.

Microsoft should partner with OEM to deliver a mid tier device with all of their services installed.  Like a Moto G or something I can pick up for $150 with their stuff installed out of the box.  Instead, they want to convince Samsung Galaxy 8 users to switch over to their services.  This goes against the market they cultivated with Windows Phone.  Should have seen the writing on the wall, as Windows 10 Mobile was becoming all about high end devices that could work with the latest updates.  Now, those phones will be left out in the cold as well, put into maintenance mode.  Those phones COULD get the latest Facebook, Messenger with video calling and audio calling, etc but those features will never make it there.  My condolences to anyone that spent $200 or more on a Windows 10 Mobile device expecting the same features from third party apps that are the norm on $20 Android devices.

Microsoft may enjoy a small dedicated market in Android with high end devices.  I hope that they do.  But it is just sad to know that a platform that was able to accomplish the same with lighter specs on devices that are actually affordable will never fully be realized.  

Best bet for Microsoft is to become an Android OEM and tie down their own devices with their own services that cannot be uninstalled and would require root.  Best of Microsoft and Google on a low end 16 GB device.  You can't uninstall any of it without root.  This would force a lot of people to use their services, just ilke it forces a lot of people to use Google's services.  I would say a 8 GB device but we all know that what Microsoft is doing would not leave any space for apps to be installed on a 8 GB device; then again if Microsoft were the OEM you would probably be able to install all of your apps on the SD card.

5G hololens will do. End of "phone/tablet" form is near anyway. They lost in phone race, hope they wont in wearables one. Future is wireless.

So no Surface Phone and no Andromeda OS? 

I made the decision myself months ago that I will be replacing my close family's 10 WP devices with Samsung Galaxies this Xmas...I am never investing in any MSFT hardware ever again...I have been burned too many times (Zune HD, Band, Zune/Groove Pass, Surface RT, etc.)...while extremely innovative, MSFT have proven ad nauseum that it has no stomach for the personal consumer market...I hope they license Live Tiles to Android because that was the most significant thing that kept me holding on to WP...after 15+ years of WM/WP, I leave the platform frustrated by MSFT...

Did no one ask him about Andromeda + hardware for it????

I think Microsoft should release an Android phone.

They already have a very robust ecosystem of apps that includes a launcher, a lockscreen, an assistant, calendar and e-mail a now even a browser with edge.

Honestly I don't care about Windows Phone. I use Android and it's great. I visit Windows sites for desktop news. 

it's all so sad :-( 

 

I guess a T-shirt with the words "hit me" at the center of Cortana logo will sell like crazy. :)

I'm with you....but Microsoft is bringing people to use Android and iOS, and soon people will use Google and Apple services (just like twenty years ago when only Windows existed and Microsoft offered services. They were not happy that others used Firefox, for example).

Apps on the Microsoft Store will no longer make sense, and tomorrow, when everything will be "Mobile", you'll be cut off from the games. Many will not even know about Microsoft services. For me app-gap is mainly in the head of the people - like with the iphone - I have more than 100 apps and I always found everything I needed, even better than on other operating systems.
Those who use Android, on Pc use Chrome! Most of all will not use Bing, onedrive, or install arrow. They'll use gmail not outlook!

This was the time to keep insisting on Windows on smartphones. It's been a shame for two years, they didn't produce a phone. Nadella is a mediocre CEO, does not have a vision.

P.S. Sorry for my english, it's not my language.

P.P.S. I own Surface Pro 3, Xbox One S and Lumia 950 XL, I use every day Microsoft services (Skype, Office ecc...). In the past I used Surface Rt, Surface 2, Lumia 925, Lumia 930. Microsof have not been corrected with so many of us.

Reducing the problem to lack of apps it's so ridiculous.

I honestly think there is more to MS decision to turn off WM10 life support, I suspect they believe their emerging technologies (AR devices) will deminish the relevance of mobile phones in their present form.

I think MS should release badass foldable Continuum enabled high end slick Surface device running Android and filled exclusively with MS software, with a Windows wallpaper and launcher that has best in class synergy with Windows desktop and custom chip, BUT WITH ABSOLUTE EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP with Google like noone else to receive updates as fast as Pixel phones and not like other OEMS like Samsung, OnePlus, Essential, Xiaomi etc. that are close to Pixel's stock android but still sh*t. maybe even exclusive partnership with Amazon's services like Alexa and others. This will destroy Apple to ashes in no time. Let's be honest - Windows is a ticking bomb as a platform and Satya knows it. Win32 is a dinosaur, no matter how Andromedish and modular they are going to make it. It's a legacy software with no future. Make this BEAST device and stress on Cloud, AI, MR, Quantum benefits. Use by default Google Maps, Play, Translate, Amazon's Alexa, Spotify as a native player and other partnership integrations. Satya is all about partnering now and if someone have read his book, knows exactly what I am talking about

To me WP was cool until 8.0, then it became and Android wannabe, failing.
Now, MS should focus on services and software where can prevale: OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, Office, Visual Studio and make Windows 10 a real multi-devices OS.

Can we for a second just accept that Windows Phone was an abomination?

I was extremely disapointed when they announced Windows Phone 7, instead of the long awaited Windows Mobile 7, which was going to bring a Windows 7 like experience to Windows Mobile, with a more powerful API and more correspondence between the Windows API and Windows Mobile API.

But instead, we got a Zune Phone with no backwards compatibility what so ever and which just was able to run webapps made in Silverlight or Javascript.

The idea was to just Rip-off the iPhone and Android in order to make a quick buck.

Microsoft did had a mobile agenda way before these 2, but instead of just adapting the points that made this 2 platforms succesful, they went for a complete rip off of their ecosystem.

And in the end Android became what Windows Mobile strived for; a user friendly yet powerful customizable platform. It became the windows of mobile operating systems.

They are bringing people to Android and iOS, and soon people will use Google and Apple services/cloud ecc.. Apps on the Microsoft Store (even on PC) will no longer make sense, and, tomorrow, when everything will be "Mobile" you'll be cut off from the games (and many will not even know about Microsoft services).

Those who use Android (most of all) on Pc use Chrome, not Edge! They're using gmail, not outlook, drive or dropbox, not onedrive. You have to convince people to use Windows!

This was the time to keep insisting on Windows on smartphones. It's been a shame for two years, they didn't produce a phone. Nadella is a mediocre CEO, does not have a vision

Sad indeed, but no developer cared and therefore no user cared. There was only a handful of us who loved it. One can only wonder if things had gone differently if MS had really paid developers to make apps for it. Sure, they helped some but I'm talking about paying the top 100 apps on Android and ios to develop on par apps, and promise to continue to pay them for 5 years or so. It would have been expensive but might have given it a chance of success. In the end I think they were too proud to do so.

Honestly, I don't need a Smartphone, I need an ultraportable Cellular Computer that I can sometimes use for phone calls, as those are literally less than 1% of my actual phone usage. So, in that regard Windows 10 Mobile isn't that big a deal to me. Also means that Android and iPhone aren't going to do **** for me either, other then frustrate the heck out of me with their terrible UIs.

Ufff...MS just doesn't need to WORK on anything at all! Just shut down the damned company and let us be! To hell with this company, its enterprise solutions and the so-called the "empathy" banner that they so ride on!

Let's go out smiling.

All everyone needs to do is pull out of the Insider program on W10. Vote your disappointment that way!!!

Why should any of us who have bug tested and helped MS for years bother anymore?

F**k 'em!!!!

I cannot fail to wonder if MS even listens to what it says!

You could not bring in developers becuase of low usage base. yet. rather than 'writing-off' 7 billion dollars in one go, it did not contemplate subsidising phones to increase user base. Rather it kept on killing the low-end phones only providing users with 'hopes' of developing an industry defining flagships, atest being the surface phone.

Now if and when it launches the surface phone, how on earth does it hope to be successful with it? The users won't be there again, developers wont write apps again. So it will fail again!

keep it simple MS. stop harping about mobility and just say we are a PC OS, Enterprise Cloud Company and that is all that we will be doing.

Let's see what the die hard fans have to say now? It's like someone kicked their little kitty. Turn out the lights, the party is over!

Windows phone failed because MS failed to produce a bug free OS. The core apps (browser, settings, fb etc) are so buggy that it's intolerable. They cannot attract developers or customers in such a platform. Nadela didn't have any other options. Everyone who uses/used a windows phone knows that this is true

 Not surprising really but I'm sorry to hear this. IMHO Windows Mobile is  so much better than iOS.

And then Mr. Joe finally spoke! .....and told us what we already knew!!!
Tell us something we don't know such as plans for the project Andromeda...

Now I'm looking forward to Jason's say on this. 😁

Most people who use Windows smart phones knew this was the case since we saw no new smart phones coming from Microsoft itself. Now that we khow MS CEO Nadella does not beleave the smart phones market needs more that 2 types of smart phones in it which is reduculous. There will be No "Surface" Smart Phones coming from Microsoft, but if the internet leaked Microsoft Patents for Dual screen "Mini Tablets" are a indication of what Microsoft is going to bring to the Market place then we may see a Microsoft made "Dual screen Mini" Tablet running the new up and coming "Windows 10 on ARM" CPU's Software with a cell phone in it's case. The Apps will come from the standard Windows 10 PC "Microsoft store" . It will run Win 32- X86  Desktop PC  programs, UWP Apps, current non UWP Windows 10 store Apps and Win 32 Centennial Programs. I would buy this Mini Tablet if it does these things. Microsft is not expecting this device to be their smart just a Tablet Hybrid that has a cell phone for those who want that capability.It will be sold with or witout a cell phone in it's case

 

So what's next, kill off Cortana as well?

Kill Windows 10 because your marketing team sucks?

Kill Surface because your marketing team sucks?

I have been a hardcore Microsoft Fan for many years and it really worries me their pulling the plug on things they simply abandon. Yeah the writing has been on the wall for a long time, but the lack of trying was pretty much negligence!

Good bye..... Blue sky..... :(

Sorry Joe, if im going to iOS or android. Microsoft services will most likely not be my first consideration. Or second...

I went and got the iPhone 8s yesterday. I also looked at the Note 8, but at the end, I chose reliability over customization. 

It really doesn’t matter anyway, because I dislike both OS. I do have all MS apps though and truth be told, some of them work way better on iOS than they did on Win10M.

If Microsoft should ever bring the “makes smartphones obsolete” device, I’ll happily come back, but not right away.

They will first have to prove that they mean it for at least a year or two.

 

Btw: not having a WC app on iOS sucks big time!!!

I am still using my Lumia 950XL until now, because the camera is incredible.. :-)

I'm assuming this is why he went on a long walk-about about a year ago. Oh well, at least he had the balls to come out and say it vs. the CEO who just keeps quite about it.  If memory serves, WP was Belfiore's baby project and he really did seem to care about it.  If he was told this back then, I really feel sorry for the dude.  Oh MS.  Good at making futuristic videos about technology, but severly lacking what it takes to make it real.  They're just like an R&D hub of ideas to the other players.

Microsoft has a bunch of Android patents that they make money from when you buy your next Android phone, how about buying an iPhone instead!