YouMail to discontinue BlackBerry updates
YouMail recently updated its app to include the ability to easily ditch a telemarketer or stalker’s call. It turns out that YouMail will be ditching BlackBerry.
The company announced that it will suspend further development for the platform.
“This was a tough decision, especially since the BlackBerry is what got us our first million registered users and put us on the map as a company,†YouMail said in a blog post. “But over the past year we’ve seen our BlackBerry audience steadily shrink, with a steady exodus of those users moving to the iPhone and to Android.â€
Decline indeed. In fact, the post goes on to say that they see more Windows Phone 7 users than BlackBerry users -- “and we don’t even have a Windows Phone 7 app!†(Don’t hold your breath there. When asked about a Windows Phone app, they point to the competition as being suitable.)
As you can imagine, this news wasn’t well received by some users. “So after using you guys for 4 or 5 years now, I get booted because I actually LIKE BlackBerry? Foul guys, that’s just foul...†wrote BB_Lover1026 in response to the post.
Another user responded that YouMail’s departure might have been better left unsaid: “Bottom line. You are better off just not saying anything and let the app fade off into the sunset than to make a public statement. What few US customers you still have will feel alienated and likely leave faster now. I did.â€
Besides getting the “it’s not you, it’s your phone†brush-off, BlackBerry users do get some new features in this last update: the ability to ditch callers, speed, stability and an ad-free environment.
Undesired callers would get a “number out of service†message and won’t be able to leave a message.
“So enjoy this release,†the company’s farewell reads. “If BlackBerry stages a comeback (and we’re definitely rooting for BB10 to take off!) or we can figure out how to drive a meaningful number of new BlackBerry users, we’ll be back.â€
In the meantime, iPhone and Android users get to look forward to more updates from YouMail. The app now includes for both platforms: visual caller ID, smart greetings, one-click call ditching and the option to tweet voicemails.
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