I received some sad news today from Hal Goldstein, the Publisher of Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine.  It seems that this fall will mark the end of the run for the only magazine which was completely dedicated to the Windows Mobile platform.  According to Goldstein, they decided to suspend publication after 11 years, because:

It has become harder and 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 much attract the large advertisers who benefit the most from our existence.

I have personally been involved with the magazine through their Best of the Year Software Awards, in which I was a judge.  I found the staff at the magazine to be some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated Windows Mobile users around, and the loss of the magazine will certainly leave a void in the Windows Mobile community.  While I will still anticipate the next issue of Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine, I will read it with the sadness of knowing it will be my last. 

For more information, check out Hal’s post explaining his reasons for suspending publication over at Smartphonemag.com.  There, you can also learn about the new iPhone Life publication, and the Knowledge Bundle he is now offering. 

After you read all of that, chime in here and let us know your thoughts.  I am sure many of you were subscribers.  What will you miss?  Do you see this as an indication of the direction the industry in general is moving?  Let us know.