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FNB pulls plug on Windows phones
- Thread starter Ockie
- Start date
Dolby
Honorary Master
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I was going to think about a Windows phone when my Android ended ; luckily a friend told me the app issue and after searching I decided against it. This is another nail in the coffin.
Odd though, condsidring the penetration of Windows 10 and Xbox One
Odd though, condsidring the penetration of Windows 10 and Xbox One
iAmThePope
Senior Member
Don't think it will be too long before MS axes it, it just doesn't have the market penetration to keep it worth it. I had the Lumia 920, amazing phone, the lack of apps and certain features got to me though.. Upgraded to an HTC and haven't really missed it
Pitbull
Verboten
Just curious I'm not too clued up with this APP business. But does Windows Mobile and Windows 8/10 not use the same apps?
AchmatK
Honorary Master
Don't mind them dropping windows phone provided that they will be looking at creating windows 10 universal apps which should be able to run on my windows 10 laptop, tablet and Lumia 950xl
Arthur
Honorary Master
I think one has to get a bit more granular before despairing. The headline is misleading - it has "phones" in lowercase, and that may not be true at all.
There's a difference between Windows Phone and Windows phones. The former is a specific operating system; the latter is just a device, and it covers WP7, WP8.x, and Win10 phones (which are very much alive).
The current WP app is specifically for Windows Phone 8.x. That is over, done, finished. The future is Win 10. And the version for ARM/mobiles/phones is not called Windows Phone.
However, they might well make a Universal app for Windows 10, and that'll run on anything with Windows 10 - desktops, tablets, mobiles/phones, Xbox, Holo Lens, etc.
They'd be stupid not to. Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps run on Win10, including Win 10 Mobile. I'm expecting a UWP app from FNB, and it'll run just fine on desktops and phones.
There's a difference between Windows Phone and Windows phones. The former is a specific operating system; the latter is just a device, and it covers WP7, WP8.x, and Win10 phones (which are very much alive).
The current WP app is specifically for Windows Phone 8.x. That is over, done, finished. The future is Win 10. And the version for ARM/mobiles/phones is not called Windows Phone.
However, they might well make a Universal app for Windows 10, and that'll run on anything with Windows 10 - desktops, tablets, mobiles/phones, Xbox, Holo Lens, etc.
They'd be stupid not to. Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps run on Win10, including Win 10 Mobile. I'm expecting a UWP app from FNB, and it'll run just fine on desktops and phones.
Last edited:
Geoff.D
Honorary Master
Agree, do not think the statement was properly worded, and it may simply be a misunderstanding of what is required. But then, this is so typical of IT personnel in large organisations .....
Why use banking apps if the browser on Windows Phone does the job. If users own an phone that lacks this then use an app. Android phones seem to have this problem requiring apps to function properly. Your browser is your most powerful tool.
The article also stated "Customers will however be encouraged to use their mobile websites instead." as per this link: http://wmpoweruser.com/windows-phone-loses-out-to-blackberry-10-as-first-national-bank-in-south-africa-halts-developement/
The article also stated "Customers will however be encouraged to use their mobile websites instead." as per this link: http://wmpoweruser.com/windows-phone-loses-out-to-blackberry-10-as-first-national-bank-in-south-africa-halts-developement/
Arthur
Honorary Master
I've posted a slightly modifed version of my post above on Duncan's site.
Arthur
Honorary Master
Yes. True.
But Windows phones (with Win 10) are very much alive. And are not going away soon.
You can dance around the naming of the products if you like. Microsoft may decide to keep pouring funds into that blackhole for a while yet, but phones running Microsoft's software are irrelevant in the market and will only become even more irrelevant over time.
Arthur
Honorary Master
Hehe. A seer, I see.
Things can change. They always do, anyway.
I am less certain about the future than you, but here's one possibility you can't discount:
Intel has seriously missed out on mobile, and ARM (in various incarnations) totally dominates today. Intel just hasn't been able to match ARM power management, performance and price.
But what if Intel get their act together and finally hatch a CPU and chipset that make x86 viable for mobile devices, with decent power management and performance? Imagine a mobile device every bit as powerful as a current desktop, with storage to match, and day-long power, and the ability to run x86 OSs and apps as well as ARM ones (Win10 already does that with UWP) ... Maybe this hardware is two or three years down the road, but it can be a game-changer.
I have no inside knowledge on this whatsoever, but I do think Microsoft has fully conceded the current phase, and is positioning for the next, which is doubtless some years off. Win10 is a much bigger play than just another desktop OS with an ARM version on the side...
Geoff.D
Honorary Master
Are you convinced that power management in a mobile device is up to scratch at the moment?
What is the single biggest failure around for mobile devices ( smart phones especially)?
Battery failure, overheating, chargers pack up.
Samsung is especially a problem here.
Your scenario is even more unlikely than Macs unseating Windows PCs as the dominate desktop/notebook operating system. And that is quite unlikely. So theoretical yes, the possibility is non zero, but it is so close to zero as to be irrelevant.
The world would be a better place with three (or more) equally matched OSs competing in the mobile market, but that is not how it has turned out.
Also, the thinking of a single platform across mobile. tablet and desktop is the very reason that Microsoft missed the mobile market.
New platform - new paradigm. Trying to backfill the old onto the new didn't work and it will continue to not work.
Arthur
Honorary Master
No, it's barely passable. But the ARM stuff is the best we have right now.
But it won't be forever. Of that we can be pretty certain.
True, very true. A hudge strategic mistake.