14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft itself admitted that Windows Phone was more or less a fiasco for the company, so it’s really not surprising that both developers and users are jumping ship to Android or iOS.
The dropping market share continues to be a decisive factor when developers are considering their long-term commitment to Windows Phone and this is what appears to be happening in the case of KakaoTalk as well.
Currently one of the most popular messaging apps in South Korea, KakaoTalk will soon give up on Windows Phone support and concentrate on its Android and iOS apps. KakaoTalk also offers a Windows desktop application, so Windows users can continue running it, but as far as phones are concerned, there will be no way for devices to connect to the servers.
“End of Support for Windows Phone,” the notification’s title reads. “We regret to inform you that we are officially ending support for KakaoTalk for Windows Phone as of December 15, 2016. Please note that you will not be able to send or receive messages but still be able to read past messages in your chatrooms.”
Buying a cheap Android phone, the most convenient workaround
Unfortunately, there is no workaround here and although it’s not yet clear how many users KakaoTalk actually has, it’s obvious that it’s another important loss for Microsoft, the platform, and its users.
Developers hardly find a reason to stick with Windows Phone, and every once in a while, new ones announce their departure from the platform, leaving users committed to Microsoft’s mobile operating system with no option to access their services.
For users living in the region, switching to Android seems to be the most convenient way to deal with the removal of KakaoTalk, but it remains to be seen how many would resist the transition just because they love Windows Phone. Unfortunately, with Microsoft showing almost no intention to slow down this transition off Windows Phone, even the most loyal fans might have to jump ship.