This week, as it predicted that Windows" global smartphone market share would drop to less than 0.1% by 2020, IDC noted that Microsoft"s "drawn out hurdle of a much needed mobile ecosystem has not gone away". Despite building the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) - allowing developers to create a single app with common code across a wide range of devices, including smartphones - the continuing fall in Windows phone market share has made it far less appealing for companies to build or maintain apps for a diminishing number of users.
Today, Delta Air Lines became the latest company to end its support for Windows phones. As Windows Central reports, users of the Fly Delta app are now being greeted by a message telling them that it has been discontinued:
We"re sorry for the inconvenience as this app is no longer supported. You can always visit delta.com from your mobile phone to book a flight, check in and view flight status.
The same screen in the app also includes an odd "Update Now" button, which does nothing but push the user back to the Windows Store, where the app is still available to download, but can"t be discovered without a direct link.
That button might offer some hope that Delta intends to launch an all-new UWP app at some point in the future, but if that"s the case, it seems odd that the company would make no mention of that on its end-of-support notice. Similarly, if a new app is on the horizon, it"s unclear why Delta wouldn"t simply wait until the new version was ready for release, rather than inconveniencing customers in the interim by directing them to use its website instead.
In August, American rail operator Amtrak killed off its Windows phone app, revealing that it was "used by less than 1%" of its passengers.
Source: Windows Central