Windows Phone moves closer to death as Microsoft ends notification support for two software versions
Windows Phone 7.5 and 8.0 are having their notification support ended.
Microsoft will end push notification services to Windows Phone 7.5 and 8.0 on Tuesday, another sign that the firm’s smartphone business is winding down.
The technology giant confirmed that from February 20, devices running either version of the software will no longer receive notifications or live tile updates.
The “find my phone” feature will also no longer work, with Microsoft confirming the switch-off is occurring because the two software versions have reached their end of support dates.
“On February 20, 2018, Mobile Push Notification services will be turned off for Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8.0,” the company said in a post on its Community page.
“Once this happens: Your phone will no longer receive notifications. Your phone will not receive additional live tile updates. The ‘Find my phone’ feature will no longer locate your phone.
“Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8.0 have reached their end of support dates, and thus services for these versions of Windows will be discontinued over time.”
Microsoft has been slowly moving away from its Windows Phone business for some time, with executive Joe Belfiore tweeting back in October that while the company will continue to support its latest Windows 10 mobile platform, new features or hardware “aren’t the focus”.
Windows Phone 7.5 and 8.0 were introduced in 2011 and 2012 respectively, but since then Microsoft has seen its market share in the mobile phone operating system market plummet – dropping to just 0.1% in the first quarter of 2017, according to analyst firm IDC.
Users of newer versions of Windows Phone software can rest easy for now however, as Microsoft said it will continue to support those versions.
“Notification services will continue to function for Windows Phone 8.1 at this time, and newer phones running Windows 10 Mobile are still fully supported,” the firm said.
