Satya Nadella's Windows Phone dreams are now shattered. On Tuesday, Microsoft has disclosed that it is officially stopping the software update for Windows Phone 8.1.
Per announcement, Microsoft will no longer be rolling out any more software updates for the Windows Phone line as Windows Phone 8.1 just got the end of support from the company. In most part, Microsoft's decision means Windows Phone devices will no longer receive security updates after the Windows Phone 8.1 version. Devices that are not updated are most likely prone to experiencing security breaches and bug attacks.
Microsoft's announcement may not come as a shock for industry experts as it was not kept under wraps that the Window Phone line has been struggling to stand on its feet amid the iOS and Android duopoly. In 2016, Windows Phone dragged its global market share to less than a percent.
The first Windows Phone was launched in 2010 in Microsoft's ambitious endeavours to dominate the smartphone industry. The Windows Phone 8.1 was released in 2014 as the third and final Windows Phone. It was succeeded by Windows 10 Mobile. Nearly 75 percent of Windows smartphones are running on Windows Phone 8.1 and the rest are running on windows 10 Mobile, according to AdDuplex.
When Microsoft acquired Nokia's handset business, the search giant was confident that it would take over 15 percent of the world's smartphones by 2018. While it came off as a promising device with Microsoft forging partnerships with the likes of Samsung, HTC, and LG, the decision has proven that a key ingredient was nowhere to be found at this time.
Windows Phone 8.1 have been abandoned by many users primarily because of the lack of support from app developers. Some of the most important and basic apps dropped from the mobile operating system include Facebook's Messenger and Microsoft's very own Skype.
Amid all these, chief executive Nadella is reportedly looking into crafting another handset device but a totally different one from what manufacturers produce during this period.
