Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine which is my favourite magazine has come to the end of life after 11 years of publication. This is sad news.

I have been a regular substriber to this magazine since its introduction.  Hal Goldstein who headed the publication and whom I regard as a friend said:

“It is with great regret I make this announcement. We are a very small, self-funded magazine publishing company. We did not make this decision lightly, especially after 11 years of issues.

It has become harder to grow our circulation over the past three years since Windows Mobile changed from being PDAs to being phones.  Pocket PC manufacturers like HP used to work with us to offer their customers a free issue of our magazine in their packaging. The phone companies have not shown similar interest in working with us.

The other business challenge has been the lack of advertising sponsorship from Microsoft, phone companies, and OEMs, despite our coverage of their products. In order for us to sell subscriptions at current low consumer magazine-type prices, we must have a stronger and growing circulation, and we must attract the large advertisers who benefit the most from our existence.

Of course, the irony is that almost 20 million Windows Mobile units were sold this past Microsoft fiscal year. We think there is a great opportunity to continue the magazine in this high growth smartphone market  for a more sophisticated publishing company or a funded entrepreneur.“

I understand the end of the Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine will be replaced with iPHONE LIFE, the iPhone magazine.  Good luck to you Hal and the gang on your new magazine.