In an email sent to Windows Mobile 6.x users and developers, Microsoft has confirmed that it will discontinue the Marketplace for Windows Mobile storefront for Windows Mobile 6.x-based smartphones beginning with the web portal on July 15th, while the mobile portal will continue to operate until an unspecified timeframe.
The July 15th web portal shut down also affects developers as new submissions will be closed on that date. The MyPhone backup service will be shut down on August 7th, with Microsoft moving contact, text messages, calendar entries and photos to the Live SkyDrive service while other data types will need to be saved before the shutdown date.
The Marketplace for Windows Mobile and MyPhone service was a last ditch attempt from the software giant to maintain the relevance of Windows Mobile 6 by offering a centralized app store and backup service for that series of devices. While the service was well-received by dedicated users, it was ultimately treated as a learning experience by the company, the lessons of which it is currently applying to Windows Phone 7. Read More for the complete text from the email.
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
