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It is sad but true, Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine will publish its last magazine in November of this year.  Pocket PC magazine was my first device magazine subscription and it carefully guided me through my entry into the world of Pocket PCs.  It has been a great resource for countless numbers of folks for the past 11 years and it will truly be missed.  Why is it going to fade away? Publisher Hal Goldstein said that it was “because of the difficulty of reaching new Windows Mobile smartphone customers, and the lack of advertising sponsorship from Microsoft, phone companies, and OEMs. We are a very small, self-funded magazine publishing company”.

Being part of the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine blog team as well as a participant in the annual Best Software Awards has been a unique privilege and one that I will remember forever.  Will it be gone forever?  I expect that we just might see it again but at the very least there are plans for adding “a Windows Mobile issue, a Google Android issue, a RIM Blackberry edition, or a generic Smartphone issue depending on where the biggest need and opportunity lies” in addition to the NEW publication, iPhone Life which is scheduled to appear four times a year.

You can read the full text of the Press Release after the break

Final issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC will be published early November, 2008. It will be a “Super Resource Guide”  — the best of Smartphone & Pocket PC

New “Knowledge Bundle” offered to Windows Mobile users

Premier issue of iPhone Life at newsstands starting September 8 will be sent to Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine subscribers.

For 11 years, Thaddeus Computing has published a magazine based on Microsoft’s mobile Windows operating system. The final scheduled issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC will be available to subscribers and at newsstands in November, after which Thaddeus Computing will suspend publication. Suspension means that there are no specific plans to publish future issues. However, the door is left open for to publish additional issues, particularly if a sponsor or buyer steps forward.

Publisher, Hal Goldstein states that “it is with great regret I make this announcement. We made the decision because of the difficulty of reaching new Windows Mobile smartphone customers, and the lack of advertising sponsorship from Microsoft, phone companies, and OEMs. We are a very small, self-funded magazine publishing company, and we did not make this decision lightly. Our focus in 2009 will be on the four scheduled iPhone Life issues. That would leave us time to produce a Windows Mobile issue, a Google Android issue, a RIM Blackberry edition, or a generic Smartphone issue depending on where the biggest need and opportunity lies. ”

The good news:

• The final scheduled issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC should be the best ever, a keeper.
  It will include winners of the 2008 Best Software Awards, reviews of the hottest new Windows Mobile Smartphones, a special Entertainment section, the latest in GPS software, an in-depth section of new tips and how-to’s, a guide to the best Internet resources, plus other surprises. All current subscribers will receive this issue.
• A knowledge bundle is available for Windows Mobile users… consisting of the final issue, the How-to Guide, 4 recent 2008 issues, 20 downloadable special reports, the premier issue of iPhone Life, and a 15% discount on all Windows Mobile software sold by Handango. 
• Thaddeus Computing is launching a new publication, iPhone Life, which will appear on newsstands starting September 8. The premier issue will be sent to all current Windows Mobile subscribers. Subscriptions can be purchased at www.SmartphoneMag.com/2010. More details will be given in a future press release.
• All current subscribers will receive the premier issue of iPhone Life and the final issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine. Those subscribers with issues remaining will continue to receive Smartphone Magazine’s iPhone Life for the duration of their subscription. Alternatively, by contacting info@smartphonemag.com, subscribers can receive the knowledge or renewal bundle.
• Smartphonemag.com continues with daily news, reviews, and how-tos; a support forum; a huge database of tips and how-to’s, many of them never published in print; Best Software Awards; the Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories; and archives of 11 years of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine.

Thaddeus Computing sees a strong future for Windows Mobile. Microsoft sold almost 20 million Windows Mobile phones in its last fiscal year. There are some very cool new devices coming out. In addition Microsoft has committed to make future versions of its operating system much more fun and user friendly. The decision to switch to the iPhone O.S., was a business decision, based mostly on the difficulty of cost-effectively informing new Windows Mobile users about the magazine. Thaddeus Computing estimated that less that 1% of new Windows Mobile users even heard of the magazine.

Publisher Hal Goldstein says: “Feel free to E-mail me your comments, angry or supportive or in between at hal@thaddeus.com .”
Contact:
Hal Goldstein, Publisher, hal@thaddeus.com
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine
Thaddeus Computing
Phone: 1-641-472-6330
Fax: 1-641-472-8409
www.SmartphoneMag.com 

PRESS RELEASE

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