14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is gearing up to shut down the Windows Marketplace for Mobile service that was launched in October 2009 to accompany the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform release.
The service did not enjoy too much popularity among users, mainly due to the fact that it got replaced only one year later with the Windows Phone Marketplace that accompanied the Windows Phone 7 platform release.
When the Marketplace launched, the Windows Mobile platform was declining fast, something that changed after the release of Windows Phone.
In two months, the Windows Marketplace for Mobile 6.x will shut down, and the owners of devices running under the older Windows Mobile OS will be left without an official application storefront.
Microsoft has already announced plans to make the move, and has started to send out emails to Windows Mobile 6.x users to inform them on the matter, WMPoweruser reports. Here’s what the said message reportedly includes:
Beginning May 9, 2012, the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace service will no longer be available. Starting on this date, you will no longer be able to browse, buy or download applications directly on your Windows Mobile 6.x phone using the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace application and service.
Applications and games acquired from the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace service installed on your Windows Mobile 6.x phone will continue to work after the service is discontinued on May 9, 2012. However, additional downloads of these applications and games from the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace service will no longer be available.
Microsoft also encourages users to review all the applications and games they currently have installed on their Windows Mobile 6.x devices and grab any updates that might be available for them before the Marketplace goes down.
Microsoft also informs users that they should not hard reset their devices, since the move will delete all data on it, including applications purchased via the Marketplace. Here’s what they say:
Please note: All phone data, including applications acquired through the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace service, data and user-specific settings, will be deleted from your Windows Mobile 6.x phone in the event that your phone is wiped or “hard reset.”
Any data on a removable storage card, if present, will also be deleted if your phone is wiped or “hard reset”.
Although the aforementioned Windows Mobile 6.x application and games will no longer be distributed via the Marketplace, users will still be able to find them via developers and third-party marketplaces, Microsoft announced.