Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012

Summary: Windows Phone is one of the best smartphone platforms, but not many know about it and the market share is negligible. 2012 should see millions being spent to promote the platform and devices.

By Matthew Miller for Smartphones and Cell Phones | January 4, 2012 -- 07:15 GMT (23:15 PST)

Follow @palmsolo

It has been a couple of weeks since I wrote a post here on ZDNet, mostly due to the holidays, but also to the disappointment with the tech press reporting so many rumors and inaccurate stories as facts just to make up news and gain pageviews. I love that Mary Jo set the record straight on Windows Phone homebrew efforts rather than going with the Microsoft is evil headline. I will be at CES for a few days next week and expect some Microsoft Windows Phone news and Paul Thurrott revealed some of what to expect with his post on Microsoft and Nokia's plans for marketing the platform this year.

Readers know I am a huge fan of the Windows Phone platform and keep preaching that you need to try a device before judging the platform based on Microsoft's previous efforts. After a year with the new platform, Microsoft is still only showing less than 2% market share. They need to do more to get the word out and according to Paul's sources 2012 will be the year that Microsoft and its partners do just that. We have already seen Nokia spending millions in Europe advertising Windows Phone and we can likely expect something like $200 million to be spent here in the U.S. for the platform.

One aspect of the marketing plan that I am glad to see is incentives for wireless carrier sales representatives. I like to visit stores to see what the salespeople promote and have NEVER been shown a Windows Phone, but with reported incentives in the range of $10 to $15 per handset sold that may finally change this year. I honestly think consumers, not necessarily die hard phone geeks, would like a Windows Phone experience over an Android experience if given the chance to spend time with both platforms. Windows Phone is rock solid stable, attractive, consistent, and a refreshing experience.

I am meeting with Microsoft to discuss Windows Phone next week and will update you on the news from the show floor.

Talkback

56 comments

Log in or register to join the discussion

DOA

Windows Phone is dead, it died when they failed migrating from Windows Mobile 5 to 6.o to 6.5. People just got tired of being left out of OS updates and they moved on.

It didn't help that Windows Phone launched and left out the majority of features that people used Windows Mobile for. Many of those users / companies moved to Blackberry and now Android.

The market has spoken and moved on. Apple, Android and RIM are all that will survive.

MobileAdmin
4 January, 2012 07:31

Reply Vote
- RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
  
  @MobileAdmin
  It won't take much time for android to go from HERO to ZERO. Remember that Symbian and Windows mobile owned the Smartphone market from 2001 to 2009. Malware, fragmentation and google greed will eventually lead to Android demise. By 2014 MS will be the king again in phones and tablet with Win 8. Win 8 super phones will be out by fall this year.
  
  owlnet
  4 January, 2012 07:46
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
    
    @owlnet I believe you information is incorrect. Windows Mobile has been in decline since early 2008 RIM is now seeing the same failure as Windows mobile. Microsoft refuses to get rid of that horrid UI, so their sales will reflect that decision. Less than 2% of the market after 5 quarters is something to be ashamed about Maybe Dave Dameshek could add Windows mobile phone to his Shame Report. ;)
    
    Rick_Kl
    4 January, 2012 10:35
    
    Reply Vote
  - RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
    
    @owlnet
    
    So, in your eyes Windows Phone will not be a success until Android fails.
    
    Brilliant.
    
    Bozzer
    6 February, 2012 05:27
    
    Reply Vote
- Wait a minute isn't one of the complaints against Android
  
  @MobileAdmin... the whole "update" thing? As for missing features I remember when the iPhone came out and some people like yourself kept listing off "features" it lacked and yet that did not stop sales now did it? Seems people keep making the same mistakes. What i need/want is what everyone else needs/wants which is almost always false by the way.
  
  Pagan jim
  
  James Quinn
  4 January, 2012 08:26
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
    
    @James Quinn
    +1
    
    Ram U
    4 January, 2012 09:38
    
    Reply Vote
  - I remember arguing with you about features
    
    @James Quinn
    
    But you were right. After a year with Android the "features" were okay but the core functionality, e-mail, phone and text, were subpar. And it was unstable. My wife loves her iPhone, I love my Windows Phone. I don't care about lack of "features".
    
    And both of our phones perform better than a top of the line android device. Seems a reasonable trade off.
    
    LiquidLearner
    4 January, 2012 12:04
    
    Reply Vote
RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012

The only reason I won't consider Windows Phone is lack of a slot for flash memory. Don't bother telling me I don't need it. I want it.

marbo100
4 January, 2012 07:33

Reply Vote
- Agree
  
  @marbo100
  Take my Samsung GS2 Skyrocket and put WP7.5 on it and I would give it serious consideration.
  
  rhonin
  4 January, 2012 07:51
  
  Reply Vote
- RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
  
  @marbo100 - then go get a Samsung Focus - they're cheap and they have a MicroSD slot under the cover for you to increase the onboard storage.
  
  bitcrazed
  4 January, 2012 09:11
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
    
    @bitcrazed I hope you know that's not what I meant. I want to have removable storage, which windows phone doesn't support.
    
    marbo100
    4 January, 2012 11:01
    
    Reply Vote
- RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
  
  @marbo100 So you???re not against non-replaceable batteries? Microsoft has officially blessed them for phones. the Microsoft Lumia phones have sealed in batteries. You have to send them to Microsoft to get them repaired. :p
  ;)
  
  Rick_Kl
  4 January, 2012 10:40
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
    
    @Rick_Kl It really doesn't matter since it doesn't support removable storage. Until it does, WP doesn't deserve my consideration regardless of any other shortcomings or benefits.
    
    marbo100
    4 January, 2012 11:03
    
    Reply Vote
  - Why would you send a Nokia phone to Microsoft?
    
    @Rick_Kl
    
    Just saying... At least spread FUD that makes sense.
    
    LiquidLearner
    4 January, 2012 12:05
    
    Reply Vote
  - RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
    
    @LiquidLearner not F.U.D. at all. The Microsoft Lumia 800 a.k.a [i]God-Phone[/i] is completely sealed, so the end user cannot access any of the internal parts. No expandable storage. no user swappable batteries, and unless the Microsoft person showing the phone off know less than you do there is no real viable option to increase the battery at all (the charge port is behind a door). So unless you know more than me (possible), [b]and[/b]the pople at Microsoft (the handset maker), you should retract your claim Im speeding F.U.D.
    
    Rick_Kl
    4 January, 2012 12:31
    
    Reply Vote
Marketing must improve

As we learned from Android and iOS, legacy support and first mover advantage is not critical for success. Both products simply did not exist prior to a few years ago and quickly developed market share. Microsoft needs to take a similar approach - focus on delivery.

Your Non Advocate
4 January, 2012 07:47

Reply Vote
I believe MS and its partners need ...

... to watch the retail experience like hawks, and dynamically address issues as needed.

P. Douglas
4 January, 2012 07:47

Reply Vote
Still missing big time

What I look for in a phone: 1. 4"+ screen 2. Multi core processor 3. SD slot 4. Standard connector 5. 4G/LTE Sorry, but the current WP (and iPhone) offerings only can garner 1 of my 5 requirements. Android wins.

rhonin
4 January, 2012 07:54

Reply Vote
- ROI
 
 @rhonin By the time a real (for me) WP phone rolls out, I will likely be too heavily invested in Android to easily switch.
 
 rhonin
 4 January, 2012 07:59
 
 Reply Vote
- RE: Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012
 
 @rhonin First off, I agree that WP only offers 1 of the 5 of your requirements (and iPhone offers none)--a standard connector. I'm coming up for phone renewal, so I'll look at the other requirements you listed: 1. 4"+ screen: Mary Jo Foley and Paul Thurott both are reporting that the new Nokia Ace will have a 4.7" screen, and will be shipping by April. Announcment to come at CES. 2. Multi core processor: Unless you plan on playing a bunch of higher end Xbox Live games, why? A single core will handle web browsing, email, texting, and phone services just fine. Even so, rumors still swirl that WP and iPhone both will offer multicore processors by 3rd or 4th quarter 2012. 3. SD slot: I've had phones with SD slots, and really don't use them. I find them to be unnecessary with phone memories starting at 16GB, like the iPhone and most WP hardware. 4. 4G/LTE: Yes this needs to come on the new phones. However, VZW doesn't have it where I live and won't for the upcoming year, and the other national carriers are just rolling their implementations out. WP will have it after CES next week (as reported by MJF, PT and Matthew Miller). No rumors about iPhone, but you can bet as the network solidifies it will be there as well. For me, it's not necessary. Living in a major metropolitan area could make it useful, but it won't be a rock-solid network for at least a year. So looking at your requirements, WP7 will have 3 of 5 of your requirements announced after CES next week, and will most likely be shipping no later than April, with multicore processing following later this year. Myself, fulfilling those 3 make it so I can wait for one of the new hardware.
 
 brentgee
 4 January, 2012 08:37
 
 Reply Vote