“Why do you bring exclusive apps on iOS and Android?”

Feb 17, 2015 10:58 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft is trying to become more relevant in the smartphone market not only by expanding its Lumia lineup and launching a new operating system, but also by bringing some of its apps on rival platforms such as Android and iOS.

This strategy, however, makes Microsoft focus less on Windows Phone, its very own platform that in the last few months received only few important app releases as compared to rival mobile OSes.

That's why users are now posting on UserVoice to express their frustration towards this new strategy which has Microsoft bringing important apps on iOS and Android and not on Windows Phone.

It all started with Office, which was launched on iOS last year and made completely free of charge a few months after that. Office was already available on Windows Phone, but not in the modern form that iOS users got access to.

Microsoft, however, promised to ship Windows 10 for phones with a completely new Office version and this month shipped a preview version of the productivity suite that provides us with a glimpse into what the new software would look like.

Moreover, the company recently launched a new Outlook email client for iOS and Android, but Windows Phone users still have to stick to the default app available in Windows Phone. A new Outlook version would also arrive on Microsoft's phones with Windows 10, the company said.

Just show some loyalty, Microsoft”

Users who posted on UserVoice call for Microsoft to show some loyalty to its customers and provide them with new apps and only then those on other platforms.

“Microsoft, you are developing quality of apps with frequent updates in other platforms but neglecting your own one! Is that Right? Does mobile first, cloud first actually mean android& iOS first and windows phone last?” one user writes.

“You say customers. Aren't we customers to you. We expressed our love towards Microsoft by buying windows phone and you are neglecting us.”

Strangely enough, Microsoft itself is well aware of this fact and Joe Belfiore posted in January on his Weibo account that the company “hasn't forgotten its users” and a new Office version would arrive soon.

Indeed, new apps will also be provided to Windows Phone users, but only a few months after the other rival platforms get it. With Windows 10, however, the company has a chance to change all of this, so it really needs to play its card right this time.