For many, two of the best products Microsoft ever produced are Windows Mobile and Windows 7-and support for are ending in about a year's time.

Earlier this week, Microsoft reminded customers that official support for Windows 7 ends on January 14, 2020, even posting an official reminder page to encourage people to be quick and adopt Windows 10.

Now is even the time for Windows phones to finally accept their fate: Windows 10 Mobile, version 1709, will forfeit support on December 10, 2019. At that time, Windows 10 Mobile users won't meet the requirements to receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft free of charge, Microsoft says. In other words, no new patches. Backups, at least, will persist until March 10, 2020. It's a whole lot worse if you possess a Microsoft Lumia or Lumia XL: June 11, 2019 would be the last date those products are supported.

Because Microsoft has discontinued support for the Lumia family, this news is bleak for individuals who own and employ a Lumia phone: "With the Windows 10 Mobile OS end of support, we recommend that customers proceed to a supported Android or iOS device," Microsoft says. "Microsoft's mission statement to empower every person and every organization on earth to achieve more, compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms and devices."

The good news, if there is any, is that Windows Mobile market share was always tiny to begin with, and today is basically infinitesimal: 0.10 %, based on NetMarketShare. (Two remaining few users are my wife and eldest son-can't play Fortnite if your phone doesn't support it, right?)

The more serious problem is the transition from Windows 7. Microsoft's beloved Windows 7 is easily the most popular desktop PC operating-system in the world, with more than 40 percent share of the market, again by NetMarketShare. Microsoft is encouraging businesses to make the transition prior to the deadline, and also to ensure users also migrate from legacy apps like Internet Explorer-which will die with Windows 7, too.

The upgrade path from Windows 7 is, naturally, to Windows 10-which isn't free. Microsoft's encouraging businesses to migrate to Microsoft 365-its package of Office 365 and Microsoft Windows support-which has a free upgrade from Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 Pro, however for $20 per user, monthly. Consumers have no such option-you'll pay $139 to download Windows 10 Home , or perhaps a bit less should you choose a system-builder option. In either case, the free upgrade window closed long ago.

What this signifies for you: If you possess a Windows Cell phone, you're going to have to migrate your phone's data onto an iOS or Android device, if you haven't already. As for Windows 7 owners, the problem is financial: Copying your data for an hard drive, than upgrading to Windows 10, requires a good investment over time and money. Unfortunately, using Windows 7 after support expires is playing with fire.