Since the launch of Windows Phone 7, Microsoft has been slowly phasing out support for their legacy mobile operating system, Windows Mobile. Earlier today Microsoft sent a message to users of Windows Mobile 6.x devices, informing them of the discontinuation of "My Phone" for Windows Mobile.
My Phone provided services similar to a few of those offered to Windows Phone 7 users via Windows Live: contacts sync (now done via Windows Live) and locating a lost phone. However, My Phone also allowed users to backup their phone data -- including text messages -- to their servers. The service was free for all Windows Mobile users. Said capabilities are not available for Windows Phone 7 users for the time being.
Starting from August 7, 2011, Windows Mobile devices will stop syncing with My Phone. Following that date, data will be automatically transferred to the user's SkyDrive, except for videos, music, documents, and favourites.
In addition, Windows Mobile users will no longer be able to access the Windows Marketplace for Mobile site starting from July 15, 2011. However, the Marketplace will continue to be accessible via mobile devices.
The email sent by Microsoft to affected Windows Mobile 6.x users is reproduced below:
Dear Windows Mobile 6.x customer:
Microsoft will be discontinuing the My Phone service for Windows Mobile 6.x. We will also be discontinuing the Windows Marketplace for Mobile web site. Because you may be affected, please review the details below:
Windows Marketplace for Mobile Web Site To Be Discontinued
The Windows Marketplace for Mobile web site at https://marketplace.windowsphone.com will no longer be available starting on July 15, 2011. After July 15, 2011, you will no longer be able to browse, buy or download applications for Windows Mobile 6.x phones via the Windows Marketplace for Mobile web site.
The Windows Marketplace for Mobile service will continue to be available on your phone, however. You will continue to be able to browse, buy and download applications for Windows Mobile 6.x on your phone.
My Phone To Be Discontinued
On August 7, 2011, the My Phone service will stop saving content from phones to the My Phone service. If you rely on the My Phone service to back-up the content on your Windows Mobile 6.x phone, you will be affected.
Starting on August 7, 2011, Microsoft will begin moving your My Phone content to Windows Live SkyDrive. SkyDrive is Microsoft's free online storage service that helps you access and share your files such as photos and Microsoft Office documents. Contacts, calendar entries, text messages and photos will be moved to SkyDrive for you. Once moved, you will be able to access this content by logging into SkyDrive using the Windows Live ID that you used to register for the My Phone service.
Other content types, including videos, music, documents and favorites will not be moved from My Phone to SkyDrive for you. If you want this content, you must save it from the My Phone service to your local PC.
On October 6, 2011, the My Phone web site at https://www.microsoft.com/myphone will no longer be available. On this date, you will no longer be able to log in to the My Phone service to access your content stored to the My Phone service. Microsoft will continue to store your My Phone content for one (1) year. Physical copies of your content can be shipped to you upon request until October 5, 2012.
Take Action
To learn more about the My Phone service shut-down, including information about your content moving to Windows Live SkyDrive and how to save other content to your local PC, please visit this web site:
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2557520
Microsoft is committed to making this transition easy. In the meantime, we want to sincerely thank you for your use of Windows Mobile 6.x.
-The Windows Phone Team
Affected users should visit the above Microsoft Support link for more details. Interestingly enough, Microsoft will even ship out a physical copy of the content to you, if you ask for it.
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