Samsung-owned SmartThings has taken to its blog to announce that it is ending support for Microsoft’s Windows phone platform, which includes Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile.
In the post, the company was setting out its product plans for 2017, however, one section titled “Windows Phone App” raised a sore thumb amongst many, including a Microsoft employee.
We also regret to announce that version 1.7.0 of the SmartThings app for Windows Phone will be the last major release for the Windows Phone OS. We are no longer able to provide the desired level of updates and support for this platform and have made the tough decision to discontinue Windows phone development.
The company explains that it has added some support for Windows 10 features in the final release:
Version 1.7.0 now offers support for Windows 10 features. Barring unforeseen issues, this version will continue to function (with Windows Phone 10 Anniversary update). On April 1, 2017 version 1.7.0 will be removed from the Windows app store, and it will no longer be possible to download it and install it onto a new device. We will continue to offer technical support through June 2017 for existing users.
Posted as a comment to SmartThings’ post, Cam Soper, a Senior Content Publisher at Microsoft, speaking from a personal view, rather than that of Microsoft’s, requested the company open source the app and that other Microsoft employees and enthusiasts would take on the development role:
Hey SmartThings – I work for Microsoft. Part of the reason I chose you over your competitors was for Windows support.
I totally get it – It’s a platform that no longer has much support out in the wild, so it’s expensive to keep it up-to-date. HOWEVER, if you will consider open sourcing the SmartThings client for Windows, while I personally do not have any authority to make any kind of partnership with you regarding it, I have many friends and other contacts in the company that would be happy to lend this project their support.
To be clear, I’m not officially representing Microsoft AT ALL, but I happen to know for a fact that if you were willing to open source it, and include a clear disclaimer that it’s not owned or maintained by SmartThings, there would be support both from Microsoft and from the community to keep this thing alive. Reach out to me – My contact info is easy to find.
Reading through the comments, it is clear that customers of SmartThings are not impressed, with many having recently purchased a device, now finding out it will not be supported by their mobile platform of choice.
“Works with SmartThings” image credit to Kārlis Dambrāns.
