Microsoft had previously told users still rocking classic Windows Mobile smartphones that the marketplace for those devices would be closing down on May 9th. Today it's circulating an email pegging the date as May 17th and the company's notice page confirms the date. Users can and should update any apps they've purchased from the store before that day, but unfortunately those apps will become unavailable if the device is hard reset or otherwise wiped clean. If that happens, you'll be on your own to contact the individual developers who created your apps one by one to make your case for getting it directly.

The extra 8 days are perhaps cold comfort to those gripping legacy Windows Mobile devices — but at this point, well, there's a darn good chance these owners are eligible for an upgrade. Like it or not, that's probably the best solution.