Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website

South Florida's BLU had been one of those third party manufacturers that was enlisted by Microsoft to offer different styles of Windows Phone handsets than the Lumia models that consumers weren't exactly gobbling up. Already known as a manufacturer of low-end Android phones, it was April 2014 when the company started teasing its first Windows Phone 8.1 unit. Microsoft had removed licensing fees for Windows Phone at the time, hoping to expand the number of manufacturers developing handsets for the platform. BLU ended up offering rebranded Windows Phone reference designs.

But now, it would appear that the manufacturer, whose talents had already been taken to South Beach, is giving up on the Windows Phone market. Anything to do with Windows Phone has been removed from BLU's revamped website, as though the company never had anything to do with Microsoft's mobile operating system at all. To give credit where credit is due, BLU did upgrade its eligible Windows Phone models to Windows 10 Mobile.

Speaking of third party Windows 10 Mobile phones, the beastly HP Elite x3 just recently was available to be pre-ordered in the U.S. through Microsoft. Possibly the most impressive phone ever to be offered on the platform, the HP Elite x3 is expected to be released on September 12th.


source: BLU via MSPoweruser