14 DAY TRIAL // It’s been almost two weeks since WhatsApp Messenger was pulled from Windows Phone Store and no one knows when exactly the application will be back.
It wouldn’t have been such a big issue if either Microsoft or WhatsApp developer would have continued to communicate the status of their work, but since the application was removed from Windows Phone Store, there hasn’t been one official statement issued.
Microsoft was the only one, through Joe Belfiore, that confirmed that it was working together with WhatsApp engineers to fix the notification issues that plagued the Windows Phone application.
Belfiore’s short statement mentioned that the issue was in Windows Phone 8 and not in the latest version of the operating system, which is weird, to say the least, given the fact that we have experienced notification issues and battery drainage on our Windows Phone 8.1 device.
Nevertheless, while people who already have WhatsApp installed on their smartphones can continue to use it, even if it’s not yet fixed for some, those who don’t have it anymore will not be able to download it.
We have already reported that lots of new users who have just switched to Windows Phone from Android or iOS are amazed (not in a good way) that they can’t download one of the most popular instant messengers available on the market.
Even though you might think that it’s childish to complain on the matter, given the fact that there are so many alternatives available, here is something that some of you might not have thought of.
Business customers with thousands of employees have recently switched from other platforms such as iOS, BlackBerry or Android, to Windows Phone and believe it or not, some of these employees would have liked to use WhatsApp.
We’re not talking about one company with a few hundred employees, we’re talking about thousands of people who are now disappointed that they have switched to Windows Phone just because they can’t use WhatsApp.
It’s sad that such a solid operating system like Windows Phone is harshly judged for the mistakes of a single application, even if that app is WhatsApp Messenger.
Unfortunately, Microsoft’s support forum is now full of complaints and even threats coming from users who claim that they will switch to other platforms if WhatsApp isn’t republished in Windows Phone Store soon.
Here is what a “business customer” has to say about the situation, “Dear Joe Belfiore, the loss of WhatsApp on Windows Phone and the lack of communication to your customers is hurting the complete Windows ecosystem. For example, I have friends working at Heineken (70,000 employees), that company just switched from BlackBerry to Windows Phone worldwide, but nobody can use WhatsApp now on their brand new Lumia 925.
You need to act now, WhatsApp is gone from the store for more then two weeks now, which means more than a million new Windows Phone users are not able to install WhatsApp. As a long time Windows fan, Windows Mobile and Windows Phone user of the first hour and owner of an IT Infra company I NO LONGER ADVISE PEOPLE TO USE WINDOWS PHONE, as it's now a complete disaster.”
That’s probably harsh, but the thing that seems to drive people crazy is the lack of communication and not necessarily the fact that WhatsApp Messenger is still not available for download.
Here is hoping that Microsoft or WhatsApp will soon issue an official statement, or perhaps the application will appear in Windows Phone Store in the next couple of days.