Good News for Windows Phone 7?
Microsoft's Windows Mobile is in a freefall. Oracle is going after Google over licensing fees for 7 Java patents that may affect the open source Android OS. Will these developments help the launch of Windows Phone 7 later this year?
Gartner released its "Competitive Landscape: Mobile Devices, Worldwide, 2Q10" report last week and sales of Windows Mobile smartphones ranked fifth in the second quarter, according to the firm's research, representing 5 percent of 61.6 million in unit sales to end users worldwide. That's down from 9.3 percent in 2Q 2009. Nokia's Symbian OS ranked first with 41.2 percent of the market, followed by Research in Motion with 18.2 percent.
The Android OS moved into third place worldwide in 2Q with 17.2 percent market share--up from 1.8 percent during the same period in 2009--overtaking Apple's iOS, which claimed 14.2 percent of smartphone unit sales worldwide, according to Gartner research.
Ally of San Francisco commented in response to Chris Pailo's news article about the Gartner data:
"The market share of Windows Mobile is basically in free fall. The real problem is that we're seeing OEMs lose interest. Microsoft can claim it will support it forever, but if the OEMs depart, the platform is finished. Enterprises really need to have a strategy in place to migrate to a different platform."
Other readers, who were in the market for new smartphones, indicated that they were willing to look at Windows Phone 7 and hoped that Microsoft didn't disappoint prospective buyers with its new platform.
If Microsoft can deliver on the WP7 platform, end user perception aided by the popularity of Windows 7 and global brand recognition, may be swayed in the company's favor.
Another development that may bode well for Redmond: The glorious rise of the Android OS hit a speed bump with Oracle's lawsuit against Google last week. As Forrester Research analyst John Rymer said in John K. Waters' article,Oracle Sues Google over Java IP in Android Phones:
"[Android] was on the cusp of generating a lot of revenue. I have to believe that others threatened by Google's Android are very happy about this lawsuit."
Did Microsoft catch a break? Windows Phone 7 and Android 3 smartphones are expected at retail before the end of the year.
The future of Windows Mobile is uncertain at best. Many Windows Mobile users don't understand that Windows Phone 7 is a different platform. It represents a clean break, not an upgrade of their existing Windows Mobile OS and current applications. That widely held misconception could create problems for Microsoft.
Developers will play a pivotal role in the success of the WP7 and Android platforms. Is Windows Mobile finished? Tell us what you think. Express your thoughts on the latest developments below or drop me a line at krichards@1105media.com.
Posted by Kathleen Richards on 08/17/2010 at 7:43 AM