For some reason, Windows Phone just cannot catch a break lately. Over the weekend, a few reports have come in noting that Vevo, used for watching "premium official music videos", is no longer available for Windows Phone.
Vevo (Vevo.com) was last updated in June of last year after getting a major overhaul in May to version 3.5. We gave the app and service high marks for design and fluidity in our review at the time.
That is not to say there weren't complaints. Some reviews noted frequent app closures. Still, the app did maintain a solid 4.1 stars (out of 5) from nearly six thousand reviews. Vevo went on later that year to release an app for the Xbox One.
As to why the app has been pulled, it is not yet evident. The app was working for most people and seemed to enjoy relatively high ratings. The notion that Vevo would remove this app in anticipation of Windows 10 is extremely odd.There is no technical reason for doing so (developers can just re-upload to their existing accounts to maintain Store presence and their past ratings/reviews).
On accident?
However, we should caution that Vevo may have pulled accidentally. A similar situation happened to the TeamViewer app a few weeks ago, which later returned. Likewise, Microsoft's own Extras + Info system app was unavailable for about ten days presumably due to a significant bug or issue.
Update: As noted on their official support page, the app indeed has been "retired":
"The Vevo app for Windows Phone has been permanently retired. However, there are two ways that you can continue enjoying Vevo content on your Windows phone:"
- Use the mobile web version of Vevo.com on your phone's browser.
- Use YouTube's app to view Vevo videos.
"The app will still be available on Windows 8.1 for tablets and PCs. Thank you for using Vevo."
We've reached out to Vevo for comment. For now, if you have the app on your phone it is best to not delete it.
Thanks, Eric W. and Maaz M., for the tips!
