PayPal has officially shut down their mobile apps for the Fire OS from Amazon, BlackBerry and Windows Phone in order to focus on their Android and iOS users.
The official end of support for the PayPal app on the said mobile operating systems ends on June 30. There wasn't any clear explanation as to why the company decided to axe the apps on the different OS.
Discontinuing apps for several operating systems is quite normal for developers especially if the number of users are quite low. However, PayPal's decision to discontinue the support for Fire OS could be controversial as there are still a number of users on the operating system.
Users on the said OSs can still access the PayPal website even without the app, CNBC has learned. The native app provides more convenience for users as it provides easy access.
PayPal VP of consumer product Joanna Lambert said in an official blog: "It was a difficult decision to no longer support the PayPal app on these mobile platforms. But we believe it's the right thing to ensure we are investing our resources in creating the very best experiences for our customers."
The Android and iOS apps for PayPal have been updated as well. PayPal asked the users of the said platforms to update their apps in order to be secured.
PayPal's version 6.0 for the iOS and Android apps now gives the users the capability to send and request money, WIRED reported. The balance and transaction histories are also shown in the app.
"We remain committed to partnering with mobile device providers, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers. As the digital payments landscape evolves, we will continue to innovate and make enhancements to PayPal's mobile experiences to give our customers the best possible ways to manage and move their money," Lambert said.
PayPal still offers buyer protection for customers buying from trusted merchants. However, crowdfunding websites have been taken off the company's list of protection for buyers.
The discontinuation of the PayPal app for the several operating systems could be a good thing for the company. They will now have more resources for maintaining and improving their Android and iOS apps.