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9 Windows phone apps that were killed in 2016

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Published onDecember 20, 2016

published onDecember 20, 2016

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2016 has been a rather dramatic year for Windows phone users with the shrinking of the userbase in several regions, the implementation ofthe newer Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app format, and the rumors of a Surface Phone launching sometime in 2017. This, what feels like a transitional year for Windows phone, has also resulted in several companies dropping support for theirWindows phone appsand in some cases even removing them completely from the Windows Store.

Here are nine Windows phone apps that were taken from us in 2016.

Vivino Wine Scanner

The popular wine comparison app wasdiscontinued due to an apparent low number of Windows phone userswho downloaded it and used it. Vivino Wine Scanner was updated on a fairly regular basis but support ceased mid-2016. The app is still available for download for free but its content is now well behind its iOS and Android counterparts and users are encourage to use the Vivino website instead.

Skype Qik

Microsoft’s official Skype Qik app wasterminated in late March 2016due to the main Skype app attaining pretty much all of its features and making it redundant. Skype Qik was mostly used for video messaging.

Air NZ mPass

Support for the official Air New Zealand Windows phone app wasdiscontinued late in 2016due to, you guessed it, a low number of active users. The app is still available to download in the Windows Store but its functionality is extremely limited.

PayPal

One of the biggest app disappointments of 2016 was thetermination of the official PayPal app. There have been hints that a new PayPal app is on the way but, since July 2016, the old app has been redirecting users to the PayPal mobile website which actually works remarkably well in the Microsoft Edge browser on mobile devices and is a legit quality substitute until any replacement app arrives.

Amazon

Amazon canned itsoriginal Windows phone app several months agoand has sincereplaced it with a new Amazon appdesigned in the modern Universal Windows Platform app format. This new app is fairly barebones and is more of a repackaging of the Amazon website.

Lumia Offers

As part of a massive rebranding effort in 2016, Microsoft began dumping and renaming several Lumia properties in a shift towards its new mobile strategy. TheLumia Offers Windows phone app was one such casualtyof this change in focus but fortunately, it won’t be missed too much due to how limited its actual use was.

Domino’s Pizza

The official Domino’s Pizza Windows phone app wasdiscontinued in the United Kingdom and Ireland a few months ago. Users can still make pizza orders on their phone through the mobile website but that’s hardly a consolation for those who preferred the app.

CNN

CNN closed their official Windows phone app andcompletely removed it from the Windows Store back in July. No official reason was given for the decision but users were encouraged to visit the CNN website, which actually looks a lot better than the app did.

KakaoTalk

While unknown to most Western Windows phone users, KakaoTalk is huge in its home country of South Korea and is pretty well known in other Asian countries too.Similar to Japan’s Line,China’s WeChat, andAmerica’s WhatsApp, KakaoTalk connected to a user’s address book and could send and receive messages, and make phone calls for free. Theremoval of its Windows phone appwas likely a combination of dwindling Windows phone users in South Korea and increasing competition from Line and WeChat within the same market. A Windows desktop program is still available for PC users but those who rely on their Windows phone to communicate with other KakaoTalk contacts are out of luck for now.

Were you affected by the killing off of any of theseWindows phone appswere there other ones that didn’t appear on this list? Do you think more apps will disappear in 2017 and will they be replaced with UWP versions? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

9 Windows phone apps that were killed in 2016#

Vivino Wine Scanner#

Skype Qik#

Air NZ mPass#

PayPal#

Amazon#

Lumia Offers#

Domino’s Pizza#

CNN#

KakaoTalk#