Three months after their acquisition by Google, NFC-like file sharing app Bump and photo sharing app Flock are calling it quits. The announcement was made through a blog post by Bump CEO and cofounder David Lieb, who said the team is "now deeply focused on our new projects within Google."
"We are now deeply focused on our new projects within Google, and we've decided to discontinue Bump and Flock. On January 31, 2014, Bump and Flock will be removed from the App Store and Google Play. After this date, neither app will work, and all user data will be deleted," wrote Lieb in the blog post.
Users of the both the services can export their data by opening the apps and following the instructions which will appear when they tap on the 'i' menu in iOS or the 'more' menu in Android. Users, who want to export their data, will receive an email link containing photos, videos and contacts from both apps.
Bump is one of the first apps that simplified the process of transferring files between devices. Bump users could simply bring phones together and actually "bump" them to transfer files. Flock, on the other hand is comparatively lesser-known app from the same startup. It automates the photo sharing while enabling the facial recognition and shares photos with people whom it recognizes in it.
Bump was also mentioned by Apple in a few TV ads as an innovative way to share user information.
"We've been inspired and humbled by the millions of people who have used Bump and Flock. Your feedback, enthusiasm, and support has brought much meaning to our work, and we want to thank you all for that. In many ways, Bump was a revolutionary product that inspired many subsequent advances and helped push the world forward. We hope our new creations at Google will do the same," Lieb wrote.
As the acquisition by Google was focused on talent, the shutdown especially within such a short time frame, comes as little surprise.
