Marketplace for Windows Mobile website closing shop on July 15th, My Phone following suit
For most phone enthusiasts, hearing that Windows Mobile 6 is winding up operations is much like receiving news that your neighbor is moving -- when all along you'd thought the house was empty. And so it's with some remorse that we announce the Windows Marketplace for Mobile website will cease operations on July 15th -- the very day it will stop accepting app submissions from developers. Those hesitant to go Metro are given a reprieve, however, as the storefront will survive on your mobile device -- ready and willing to accept your impulse purchases.
In related sadness, the My Phone sync service will meet a similar fate on August 7th, giving you until that date to migrate to SkyDrive. If you're forgetful, Microsoft plans to automatically save your contacts, calendars, text messages and photos to its Live service -- but it's on you to transition your video, music and documents. We know everybody makes the switch at their own pace, but once you're ready to part with that iPaq perhaps it will find a happy future on the streets of Hong Kong. For the complete communique from Microsoft itself, just follow the break.
[Thanks, all]
Shut-down of Windows Marketplace for Mobile Web Site and My Phone Service Notification
June 8, 2011
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 http://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 http://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:
http://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
