Windows Phone Just Got Kiked: Top Messaging App Abandons Microsoft Smartphones

It's not a secret that developers and users alike are leaving Windows phones, mostly as a result of Microsoft itself giving up on the mobile platform, and today another company waves goodbye to users.

Kik Messenger, which in some parts of the world is a top messaging application, is giving up on Windows phones without any official announcement or anything like that, obviously because the existing Windows phone user base is so small it doesn't make much sense to stick around.

Even though it's so widely used, Kik Messenger has rarely received updates on Windows phones, and the latest version shipped in 2016. Despite the lack of updates, however, it was one of the top messaging apps for many Windows phone users, so seeing it go is clearly a big loss.

Kik Messenger can no longer be downloaded on Windows phones, and the download links have been removed not only from the Store, but also from the company's websites. Direct links aren't available either. On the other hand, Kik keeps getting updates on Android and iOS, so if you're looking for a different platform where apps are frequently updated, you know what you have to do.

Microsoft: You're better off Windows phones

Microsoft itself has admitted recently that Windows phones have no future, at least from a consumer perspective, with no new features and hardware planned.

Instead, updates will continue to be released, but they won't bring anything besides small bug fixes and security patches to correct vulnerabilities that could expose the small number of users still running Windows phone.

In the meantime, the company is substantially more focused on improving its Android and iOS offering with frequent updates to its apps and services to ensure full compatibility with these platforms.

Furthermore, the software giant has also started selling Android smartphones into its own stores, with the Samsung Galaxy S8 described as one of the best ways to experience Microsoft apps on a non-Windows platform.

Source: Windows Phone Just Got Kiked: Top Messaging App Abandons Microsoft Smartphones