Microsoft Will Stop Supporting Windows Phone After 18 Months

By Steve Heller – Apr 10, 2013 at 1:00AM

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Considering Microsoft’s lack of market share in mobile, this move could be viewed as bad for business.

Yes, you heard it right. Microsoft (MSFT -3.21%) will stop supporting Windows Phone versions 7.8 and 8.0 just 18 months from their respective release dates. Users that are deemed unable to upgrade to the next version of Windows Phone on their devices will no longer receive security updates and general software enhancements when the expiration period is reached. In this video, Motley Fool contributor Steve Heller discusses Microsoft's likely motivation behind this seemingly poor choice and what it could mean for investors.

Erin Miller owns shares of Apple. Fool contributor Steve Heller owns shares of Apple and Google. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, and Microsoft. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.