14 DAY TRIAL // Skype, the popular messaging application and service, is being discontinued on Windows Phone 7 devices, Microsoft has announced in a new entry on the Skype FAQ.
According to the company, all Skype applications for Windows Phone 7 devices are being retired, which means that users will no longer be able to take advantage of the features and capabilities that Skype had to offer to them.
Microsoft also notes that the decision was influenced by its goal to provide users with the best possible experience, which is available only in newer versions of the application.
“We want everyone to experience the best Skype has to offer – from enhanced quality to better reliability to improved security – and the newest version of Skype is the way to do that,” the company says in the aforementioned post.
“So everyone can benefit from the latest improvements, we sometimes retire older versions of Skype across all platforms, including mobile devices. For that reason, we are permanently retiring all Skype apps for Windows Phone 7.”
Basically, these applications will disappear completely, along with any support for them, and there is little chance that they will ever return to availability.
Microsoft hasn’t provided info on why it won’t leave the apps as they are at the moment, but things appear to be pretty clear, since the company is suggesting that users will be able to enjoy Skype on Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 handsets.
“As a result, within the next few weeks, you’ll no longer be able to sign in and use Skype on any Windows Phone 7 device. You will still be able to use Skype on a variety of mobile platforms, including Windows Phone 8 or 8.1, but unfortunately, Skype will no longer be available in any form on Windows Phone 7,” Microsoft notes.
Considering the fact that Windows Phone 7 devices cannot be upgraded to the newer OS versions, users will need to purchase a new smartphone in order to continue using the application.
Skype is available not only on devices running under Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 platforms, but also on those powered by Android and iOS (support for Symbian is also being discontinued, it seems). It is also available for desktop users.
Owners of Windows Phone 7 devices with a Skype subscription should cancel it as soon as possible, provided that they don’t get a new device to enjoy the service on. Otherwise, they will continue paying for something they won’t be using anymore.
“If you have a subscription that you will no longer be able to use (that is, you don't use Skype on your computer or another mobile platform), you will want to cancel it to avoid being billed in the future,” Microsoft notes.
Soon, all those who have a Windows Phone 7 device will see that the Skype application will no longer sign in, which will be the final indicator that the app is no longer available for them.