Windows Phone was once envisioned as a promising operating system for smartphones. However, it has become a tale reminiscent of a Disney movie, beginning with the famous phrase “Once upon a time…”
Allow me to share a personal experience from my past involving my former smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 830. This phone, released in September 2014, was powered by Windows 10 Mobile (GSMArena, n.d., para. 2). At the time, I was using the e-Banking service and waiting for a security code to arrive via SMS. However, the session had expired, and the SMS failed to come through. Remembering a similar incident in the past, I decided to reboot my smartphone. To my surprise, the Windows 10 Mobile logo froze on the screen, indicating a problem with the operating system. Curious about what was happening, I immediately searched the internet for information on Windows 10 Mobile. The search results revealed that Microsoft was completely ending support for Windows phones by December 10th (Stephenson, 2019, para. 5).
It’s fascinating to delve into the history of Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile. The journey began with Windows CE, which was launched in 1996 and laid the foundation for Microsoft’s future mobile operating systems (Windows Phone, n.d., para. 4). As the world embraced the concept of mobile technology, Microsoft adapted its operating system to the evolving trends. Over time, they released various versions of their operating systems, including Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and Windows 10 Mobile, to cater to handheld devices and smartphones. Each version was accompanied by attractive mobile devices, with Microsoft focusing on software rather than hardware.
Now, let’s explore Windows 10 Mobile in more detail. Developed by Microsoft, Windows 10 Mobile was released to manufacturing on November 20, 2015, and made available to the public on March 17, 2016 (Wikipedia, 2019, para. 1). This marked a significant milestone for Microsoft as they ventured into hardware production, acquiring Nokia’s mobile business for $7.6 billion (Hughes, 2018, para. 1). Despite the involvement of other manufacturers, Windows 10 Mobile failed to compete with the dominance of Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android smartphones. The lack of app development for the Windows Store and some vendors’ withdrawal of apps hindered its growth. In October 2017, Microsoft’s corporate vice president confirmed that they would no longer sell or manufacture new Windows 10 Mobile devices due to low market share and a lack of third-party development (Windows Phone, n.d., para. 46).
As the Windows 10 Mobile project ended, the internet was filled with explanations for its failure. It’s remarkable to think about the billions of dollars invested and the thousands of people involved in this vision from 1996 to 2017. Despite having all the necessary components for success, the project fell short. Many users, including myself, are missing Windows phones!
Returning to my Nokia Lumia 830, I solved the booting problem by removing a micro-SD card. Once the OS booted successfully, I reinserted the micro-SD card, and everything continued to function correctly, including receiving the security code via SMS.
The story of Windows 10 Mobile is one of ambition and missed opportunities. From its humble beginnings with Windows CE to the release of Windows 10 Mobile, Microsoft embarked on a journey to conquer the smartphone market. However, despite the company’s efforts and investments, Windows 10 Mobile couldn’t compete with the dominance of Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android smartphones. The lack of app development and the withdrawal of support from vendors ultimately led to its downfall. As the Windows 10 Mobile project ended, it left a sense of nostalgia for those who were once enthusiastic users of Windows phones. While the project may have fallen short of its goals, it serves as a reminder that even with all the necessary ingredients for success, the ever-changing tech industry landscape can be unpredictable.
References
(2019, September 11). Windows 10 Mobile version history. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10_Mobile_version_history
(n.d.) Windows Phone: A history. Windows Phone. https://mobiforge.com/timeline/windows-phone-history
(n.d.). Nokia Lumia 830. GSMArena. https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_830-6638.php
Diaz, J. (2019, June 24). A Foldable Microsoft Surface That Runs Android Apps Coming in 2020 (Report). Tom’s Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/us/micosoft-dual-screen-surface-android,news-30427.html
Hughes, M. (2018, September 3). Five years ago, Microsoft bought Nokia’s smartphone business. TNW. https://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2018/09/03/five-years-ago-microsoft-bought-nokias-smartphone-business/
Stephenson, B. (2019, August 14). Windows phones running Windows 10 Mobile got a new security update today. ONMSFT.COM. https://www.onmsft.com/news/windows-phones-running-windows-10-mobile-got-a-new-security-update-today
Bekim Dauti is a qualified and experienced computer technology expert specializing in server administration, computer networking, and training, focusing on Cisco, CompTIA, and Microsoft technologies. He earned his bachelor’s in informatics from the University of Tirana, a master’s in information technology from UMGC Europe, and a doctorate in Computer Science from Aspen University.
Bekim has over 20 years of experience as a Cisco Certified Academy Instructor (CCAI) and over 15 years of experience as a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). In addition, he holds several IT certifications from reputable vendors, including ECDL, Certiport, CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems.
As a prolific writer, Bekim has contributed to nearly 20 books and published dozens of articles in renowned publications such as PC World Albanian and CIO Albanian. In addition, he founded InfoTech (Academy) and Dautti and works as a Microsoft Certified Trainer at Elev8. Bekim’s passion for technology extends to maintaining a blog called “Bekim Dauti’s Blog.” Bekim is grateful for his parents’ support.
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