Dell is retiring two of its apps – Dell Mobile Connect and Alienware Mobile Connect. The two apps allowed people to connect their smartphones with their Dell or Alienware PCs and send a text or make phone calls through the PC. However, both the apps will soon be discontinued. The company made the announcement through a support article giving away the date when the apps will be retiring.
According to the support article, the Dell Mobile Connect and Alienware Mobile Connect apps will become unavailable to download on November 30, 2022, for users in the United States, Canada and Japan. Further, two apps will be discontinued on January 31, 2023.
If you reside in any other countries except the three mentioned earlier, then you do not have much time as the apps will become unavailable on July 31, 2022, and they are set to be discontinued later this year on November 30.
The Dell Mobile Connect app was first introduced in 2018 and added the functionality to send text messages or make calls through Dell PCs. The app also synced the phone’s notifications on the PC. And it also allowed users to mirror the phone’s screen to the PC. The app was compatible with Android and iOS. The Alienware Mobile Connect app was the same app but it came pre-installed on the Alienware PCs, thus the name.
Dell PCs and laptops used to come with the Mobile Connect app pre-installed. However, the new Dell XPS 13 Plus did not come with the app pre-installed.
Is there any alternative to the Dell Connect app?
Microsoft has its own companion app for smartphones – the Phone Link. The app is very similar to Dell’s Mobile Connect app, and as an added bonus, you can also transfer files with the Phone Link app. But, Microsoft’s Phone Link does not support iOS, while Mobile Connect is compatible with iPhones.
Why is Dell shutting down Mobile Connect?
Last year, Intel acquired Screenovate, the company behind the Dell Mobile Connect app. And this could very well be why Dell Mobile Connect is retiring.
The Mobile Connect app might be gone, but Intel plans to bring Screenovate’s technology to Evo-certified PCs. The feature might be coming later this year. It might also support iOS devices, unlike Microsoft’s Phone Link.