Analysts: Windows Phone 7 will lose mobile market share

Simon · Oct 11, 2010, 21:42:04

Windows Phone 7 will do nothing to improve Microsoft's share of the mobile market, according to analysts.

The software giant is set to unveil handsets running Windows Phone 7 system later today, with phones expect to hit shelves within a month.

At the moment, Microsoft holds a 5% share of the global smartphone market, according to research firm Gartner, compared with 9% a year ago. Rival Google's Android system has a 17% market share, jumping from only 2% a year ago.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/361798/analysts-windows-phone-7-will-lose-mobile-market-share

Rik · Oct 12, 2010, 11:06:49

Losing browser share, not getting phone share, being threatened by other OS. Is Microsoft past its sell by date I wonder?

Simon · Oct 12, 2010, 11:20:44

I can't really see that Windows is under threat. Macs are still too expensive for many, and Linux just isn't user friendly enough for the average punter.

Rik · Oct 12, 2010, 11:22:19

Time will tell, but we have a lot more Mac and Unix users than we did a couple of years ago.

Simon · Oct 12, 2010, 11:24:05

True.

Rik · Oct 12, 2010, 11:25:55

Firefox didn't make it overnight, people need time to change, but if businesses start using Unix more then we could see a greater adoption.

pctech · Oct 12, 2010, 11:26:29

I hope MS doesn't make the mistake of making Windows effectively a thin client OS by running most of it from large server farms as that will make domestic connections unusable and I don't want MS controlling everything I do.

Rik · Oct 12, 2010, 11:38:35

It's them or Google, Mitch.

Glenn · Oct 12, 2010, 11:42:50

My money would be on Google, they are halfway there already, with Google docs.

Rik · Oct 12, 2010, 11:49:44

I agree, Glenn.

Tacitus · Oct 12, 2010, 13:29:50

Quote from: Rik on Oct 12, 2010, 11:22:19
Time will tell, but we have a lot more Mac and Unix users than we did a couple of years ago.

I've observed this at University. At one time Mac users were extremely rare but now you can go into the coffee shop and, quite often they will outnumber Windows users. Add to that the number of users in Comp Sci departments who are using Macs because of the Unix underpinnings and MS may well be on the slide.

My guess is that the Windows/Office monopoly will hold, but they will find it increasingly difficult to break into new markets. Unless of course they revert to monopoly abuse which is always a possibility. Regulators are always two steps behind.

Rik · Oct 12, 2010, 14:33:41

Only two? Ofcom need to catch up then.