The Surface Duo is dead — Microsoft pulls plug on $1,500 Surface Duo 2 after just one Android OS upgrade

[Windows Central]

The Surface Duo 2 has just received its likely final security update, marking an end to Microsoft’s brief return to the smartphone market.

The Surface Duo is dead — Microsoft pulls plug on $1,500 Surface Duo 2 after just one Android OS upgrade : Read more

 

[GraniteStateColin]

The conclusion that we shouldn't trust another MS phone is EXACTLY why Microsoft's abandoning products with such abandon was a strategic mistake. When a company supports its products, customers trust a new entrant. They buy it. This reduces the risk and therefore cost of product development and go-to-market plan. Conversely, as Microsoft has done here, they have made it so users won't trust a new product. This makes launching ANYTHING new very expensive for Microsoft.

I hope this is a lesson for everyone on why supporting a product and giving it every fighting chance at success, erring on the side of supporting for too long over too little, is the right move. Even if it loses money on that product, it tells your customers and the market to trust you for the next one. That can save money in the long run by reducing launch costs in the future.

And yet, I confess, if Microsoft makes a new phone one day, I don't know that I'll ignore it. I did get good years' usage out of my Windows Phones and Duos before MS flatlined them. They were my favorite devices. If the form factor were interesting, I think I would give MS a shot. I also know that I'm in the minority on this per the damage they did to themselves in the market as noted above.

 

[Olumide O]

Another one bites the dust

 

[Papictu]

Microsoft's incompetence in the consumer markets is unrivaled, the device itself was competitive, but the absurd price and poor marketing management make failure inevitable, they end up doing what they always do, refocusing the product to businesses and abandoning their users, further fueling the image of distrust in their products.

It pains me for brands like Xbox, which have a lot of potential to succeed but end up falling because of the infinite incompetence that this company seems to demonstrate managing any product that is not intended for businesses.

 

[Arun Topez]

Ironically, they patented a new foldable mobile device recently on October 1st that looks similar to Duo.
What's the point though? Unless they commit to promise a longer support cycle like the other major players are doing and actually push for consumers and developer support, then there's zero reason to support Microsoft's mobile devices anymore, especially at this price point because it will just be a repeat of the same story over and over again.