14 DAY TRIAL // Major app developers are one by one leaving Windows Phone, and it’s no wonder this is happening, especially because Microsoft itself has been rather vague about its plans for the platform.
PayPal has just announced that its Windows Phone app will be discontinued on June 30, with users on the platform only allowed to access their accounts through the web interface with Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge.
PayPal will focus specifically on Android and iOS apps, so Amazon Fire and BlackBerry apps are being pulled too. Users of these platforms will also be able to connect to PayPal with their browsers.
Android and iOS users have to update to PayPal 6.0 to continue getting support, the company announces, so they need an Android device running OS version 4.03 or newer and iPhone 4s, iPad 2, and iPod Touch 5th generation or newer running at least iOS 8.1.
“It was a difficult decision to no longer support the PayPal app on these mobile platforms, but we believe it’s the right thing to ensure we are investing our resources in creating the very best experiences for our customers. We remain committed to partnering with mobile device providers, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers,” PayPal says.
Windows Phone keeps going down
Although the Windows Phone version isn’t the only one pulled this time, it’s very clear that Microsoft’s mobile platform is no longer appealing to developers, who see no reason to continue supporting their apps for such a small user base.
Recent statistics have shown that Windows Phone dropped to no less than 0.7 percent market share, and Microsoft’s only plan right now is to support the super limited device ecosystem and to keep the operating system alive until the Surface Phone lands in spring 2017.
Microsoft is believed to no longer invest in new Lumia devices, so the only new handset to launch under its brand and running Windows 10 Mobile is likely to be the Surface Phone. In the meantime, if you’re looking to buy a high-end Windows 10 Mobile device, your options are very limited.