In order to create better mobile shopping experience for the users, the merchants should focus on developing responsive websites using Magento Community Edition 1.9.1 or later or Magento Enterprise Edition 1.14.1 or later. Also, they should focus on Magento Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK) to develop iOS app; which is provided to the Enterprise Edition software licenses. Because of this, on November 1, 2015, Magento mobile native applications are shutting down.
By shutting down, it means, on November 1, Magento will delete all the mobile applications that reside in Magento’s Google Play store and Apple iTunes accounts and they will close the accounts. So, the new users will not be able to download those apps. The merchants can neither transfer their apps to any personal developer account to enable or disable the app, nor can they change the distribution settings. Also, the merchants cannot change the code with the help of the Magento Mobile source code. However, the apps which are previously downloaded will continue to work normally after November 1, 2015.
Magento will discontinue providing the Magento mobile support like to fix up bugs from September 1, 2015 and they will stop accepting the app look and feel change requests from October 1, 2015. They will also stop the Magento Mobile source code downloads.
Magento has also asked the merchants to consider a few points when managing their mobile strategy:
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Merchants should transfer their application to the personal account of developers in Google Play store or Apple iTunes store as soon as possible in order to keep controlling their app after November 1, 2015.
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The merchants who had already purchased the Magento Mobile source code can use the same. However, those who have not purchased yet shall purchase and download it. Only then, they will be able to customize the code changes and maintain the application. Also, they will be able to maintain the compatibility with the future versions of Magento’s software and the operating system of the mobile device.
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They should also develop a website with the responsive design reference theme which will be available in Magento Community Edition 1.9.1 or later as well as Magento Enterprise Edition 1.14.1 or later.
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They should also make the use of the new Magento Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK) for Enterprise Edition to develop an iOS application. This SDK helps to develop a fully functional open source iOS app. The special discounts are available for everyone who wants to upgrade from Community Edition to Enterprise Edition in order to use the SDK.
