October 2017: Microsoft says Windows Phone is dead
Windows Phone was a platform that many loved, but in 2017, it had become clear that Microsoft was no longer interested in pursuing its own mobile platform. In October 2017, Microsoft's Joe Belfiore confirmed on Twitter that development on Windows 10 Mobile was winding down, and that the company was now focusing on Android and iOS as the premiere place for Microsoft software and services on devices that fit in your pocket.
This marked the beginning of the end for Windows Phone, as Microsoft stopped releasing new features and hardware for the platform. At the time, Microsoft was hoping to reenter the mobile market with a foldable phone powered by Windows Core OS, but that plan eventually fizzled out in favor of running Android on it instead. This product ultimately became the upcoming Surface Duo.
