Microsoft Sets End Date for Windows Phone 8 Support

In a note published on its website, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) says that it will end support for its Windows Phone 8 software in July 2014.

An end date for support suggests that the software giant may be planning to launch Windows Phone 9 sometime soon. Software support for its phone OS versions lasts for a year and a half. Windows 8 was released in October, ZDnet notes.

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Microsoft also noted that support for Windows Phone 7.8 will end in September 2014.

The software giant, which is keen to crack into the highly competitive mobile market dominated by Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone and smartphones running Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android OS, has posted a number of job ads, looking for personnel to help test Windows 9 on various smartphones.

The Window 8-based Lumia 920 smartphone from Nokia (NYSE:NOK) has enjoyed some success since its launch.

However, Microsoft’s line of  Surface tablets appears to be slow in gaining traction amongst consumers.

Shares of Microsoft edged up slightly in Tuesday morning trading.