Photo sharing service PicPlz unexpectedly announced its closure on Sunday, a move scheduled for July 3 in order to allow users to grab their photos before the service is officially terminated. While the company has not given a specific reason for the shutdown they have urged customers to grab their photos while they still can.
The main announcement regarding the shutdown simply states:
“On July 3, 2012, picplz will shut down permanently and all photos and data will be deleted. We have provided download links for existing users to save their photos. Thank you for your support of picplz and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.”
At first the company had not provided a simple mass download tool which caused an outcry among users who did not want to download each of their photos individually. Before PicPlz posted its own mass download program an unofficial app had been released for that same purpose.
PicPlz was developed into both Google Android and iOS apps by Mixed Media Labs and those mobile apps have now been on the market for just over two years. PicPlz was considered one of Instagram’s first real competitors.
10 months ago trivia game manufacturer Sporcle took over the photo locker application.
Giving users very little glimpse into the shutdown the company’s founders say on the official PicPlz blog:
“We have decided to move on to other projects and have made the tough decision to shut it down. “
After July 3, 2012 all users photos stores on PicPlz servers will be fully deleted with no chance of recovery.
