Windows Phone Is Dead (For Real This Time)

Microsoft has ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 with this month’s Patch Tuesday cycle, basically killing all versions of its smartphone operating system beside Windows 10 Mobile.

This makes Windows 10 Mobile the only smartphone platform that Microsoft is supporting right now, though not all of its devices can run it, as per the company’s controversial strategy that left nearly half of its lineup behind.

The worst thing is that by killing Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft is basically giving up on nearly 80 percent of its mobile users. Windows Phone 7.x, Windows Phone 8.0, and Windows Phone 8.1 account for the biggest part of its mobile user-base, according to data offered by AdDuplex, and Windows 10 Mobile is running on just 20 percent of the Windows phones currently on the market.

Android and iOS, the only options

Furthermore, it’s unlikely to see the Windows 10 Mobile share growing, though there’s a small chance that more eligible phones would be ...