I just heard some unbelievable spin coming out of Microsoft this morning. They expect Windows Mobile to account for 40% of the global smartphone market within the next four years.
Did Microsoft make a bid for Research in Motion or Apple recently? If not, this is the most ridiculous thing that I’ve heard all day. Granted, today isn’t even half over yet, but, still.
Depending on whose numbers you look at, Microsoft has less than 13% of the global smartphone market now. Apple and Research in Motion are growing by leaps and bounds and lets not forget about Linux based mobile operating systems. I know Linux isn’t big here, but, it is getting big about everywhere else.
For Microsoft to be able to pull off an additional 27% of the global market share in the next 4 years they are going to have to come up with an OS better than the BlackBerry OS and better than the iPhone OS. Unless they do a do-over, I doubt that Microsoft could even make Windows Mobile stable within the next 4 years, let along out shine RIM or Apple.
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Funny, and I find it obscure, but to my disbelief, many companies and even government agencies use it. Why? Who the hell knows. But I wouldn’t knock it completely. Some companies are devoted to MS.
It really isn’t surprising that Windows Mobile is going to be as prevalent in the mobile phone world mainly because everyone knows and understands Windows.
It’s basically due to the tight integration of Windows applications. Many proprietary apps can be done in dot net and loaded onto the windows mobile device without issue. Because dot net is poular in the development world, I’m sure windows mobile will be around and even possibly grow. This is an area that at some point Apple needs to let go of the reins and let developers develop on their platform. This is also an area in which RIM needs to focus on for the long run. Email is sweet, but there’s going to be more needed to offer if they want to continue the strong corporate marketshare they have today.
Microsoft has been known to make wrong predictions in the past, and has of late a pretty poor track record.
They botched Windows Vista. Their Zune has tanked in sales. And their attempted buyout of Yahoo! was handled very poorly. In fact, Microsoft hasn’t had many successes lately.