Appocalypse continues: Teamviewer and Opera Mini unpublished from the Windows Phone Store

Teamviewer is the latest important app to be dropped from the Windows Phone Store.

The app is no longer published, meaning new users are no longer able to download it.  Existing users should be able to continue using the app, until they upgrade their device. The move is significant, as the app is often used in enterprise settings.

The app is joined by Opera Mini, which is also no longer available in the store.

Teamviewer and Opera have not revealed the reason for the step, but is joined in recent weeks by the Chase and Bank of America apps, raising suspicion of a systemic problem, such as funding by Microsoft to develop the apps expiring, and Microsoft not renewing the deals.

There have been rumours of companies asking several tens of thousands of dollars to develop Windows Phone apps, and I suspect we are seeing the effect of brinkmanship related to such payments today.

Alternatively, with financial years coming to an end, Windows Phone’s lacklustre performance in 2014 may have resulted in projects for the OS not receiving further funding.

Many see Windows 10 and Universal Apps as the solution to the issue, but I question whether a desktop OS can stimulate the production of mobile apps, particularly when Windows 10 emphasises the Win32 desktop so much more over Modern apps.

Ultimately it will come down to market share, and here Microsoft’s low-end strategy may actually be the only real answer, with sales for example increased 28% YoY in Q4 2014, primarily due to super-cheap Windows Phones.

Update: Teamviewer support has said the app will be back soon.

@MLpzS The TeamViewer app should be back soon in the store. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Regards, Julia

— TeamViewer Support (@TeamViewer_help) January 30, 2015