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Windows Mobile falls behind iPhone in latest mobile-market numbers

By | February 7, 2008, 8:09am PST

Summary: Microsoft needs to do something to boost its Windows Mobile market share — and sooner rather than later. If you combine all of the cell carriers who offer Windows Mobile, Microsoft still fell behind Apple, in terms of cell-phone share in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to market researcher Canalys.

Windows Mobile 7 can come none too soon for Microsoft, based on the latest mobile market-share data.

Microsoft doesn’t make a cell phone. Like it does in the PC market, it relies on OEMs to preload its operating system. If you combine all of the cell carriers who offer Windows Mobile, Microsoft still fell behind Apple, in terms of cell-phone share in the fourth quarter of 2007. That’s according to the market watchers at Canalys.

In the fourth calendar quarter of 2007, with 6.5 percent share, Apple pulled into third place (behind Nokia and RIM) in the worldwide “smart mobile device” market, Canalys said. In the U.S., Apple also hit the big-time, according to Canalys:

“Canalys estimates that Apple took 28% share of the fast growing US converged device market in Q4 2007, behind RIM’s 41%, but a long way ahead of third placed Palm on 9%. This was also enough to put Apple ahead of all Windows Mobile device vendors combined, whose share was 21% in the quarter according to Canalys figures.”

Windows Mobile 7, according to the latest information out there, doesn’t sound like it will be done until 2009. It typically takes Microsoft’s handset partners six-plus months to start preloading the latest version of the mobile OS on new phones, which depending on when in 2009 Windows Mobile 7 is released to manufacturing, could mean late 2009 or even 2010 availability.

Will Windows Mobile 6.1, expected this year, along with new Windows Live Mobile services in the pipeline, be enough to help Microsoft hold its own here? I’m skeptical.

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Topics

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Disclosure

Mary-Jo Foley

Freelance journalist/blogger Mary Jo Foley has nothing to disclose. WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). I do not own Microsoft stock or stock in any of its partners or competitors. I have no business ventures that are sponsored by/funded by Microsoft or any of its partners or competitors.

Biography

Mary-Jo Foley

Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 25 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNet, eWeek and Baseline. She has kept close tabs on Microsoft strategy, products and technologies for the past 10 years. In the late 1990s, she penned the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet, and more recently the Microsoft Watch blog for Ziff Davis.

Got a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.

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RE: Windows+Mobile+falls+behind+iPhone+in+latest+mobile-market+numbers
makrejktt27-24353596798417967599295365449010 Updated - 12th Nov
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Microsoft is TOAST
nomoremicrosoft 7th Feb 2008
and CRISPY TASTLESS toast at that. Throw them away and get what YOU want out of interactive phone tech. by purchasing Blackberry, iPhone or any other NON-MS OS phone system.


Take control and remove MS from the equation!
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Not surprised
CobraA1 7th Feb 2008
Not surprised. Apple has been very successful with mobile devices.
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Really?
Neil422 7th Feb 2008
Like the Newton?
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...
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Yes really!
dave95. 7th Feb 2008
Have you heard about a little device called an iPod?
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Well ahead of it's time...
nix_hed 8th Feb 2008
...and Apple-Sans-Jobs showed everyone else how to do these devices correctly, with handwriting recognition any a lot of the other features we take for granted in PDAs and PDAphones.

If Jobs wouldn't have been forced out by the geniuses running Apple at the time, maybe the Newton would still be around. Remember, he does have a way to sell lots of stuff that even Apple fans think is over-priced...
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People Love Their iPhones
P. Douglas 7th Feb 2008
I have met one person with an iPhone, and he really loves it. MS needs to scramble and out-design the iPhone OS with Windows Mobile. Quite frankly MS needs to build up a reputation where people say that MS has the best software designers in the industry. (Also I hope Windows 7 will have better aesthetic and overall design than the current version of Mac OS.)

The good news in all of this is that Apple has proved that software + services can be a big hit on portable devices. iTunes has long proved that software + services are a big hit on PCs, and Apple seems ironically to be the torch bearer for software + services.

MS probably already knows this, when it comes to software driven devices, as Jobs might put it, "It is the experience, stupid. Not merely the features."
*** MS needs to scramble and out-design the iPhone OS with Windows Mobile.***

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Yeah.. like that will ever happen.


*** "It is the experience, stupid. Not merely the features." ***

Indeed, Hit the nail on the head... right into the MS coffin... happy

One more thing.. Apple's iPhone is running OS X... As in a real OS... As in all the potential of a real computer... As in unlimited potential with a single software update...


Will we ever see an iPhone killer??? Answer: No... not any time in the next 10 years at least.
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I garantee you will see
GuidingLight 7th Feb 2008
an iPhone killer in the next two years. That is the maximum the general public allows for devices of this nature.

Sorry.
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You need to remember...
nix_hed 8th Feb 2008
...that this is Apple, and not Nokia, Motorola, SonyEriccson (sp?), Samsung, or LG. If Apple has the power to push people who HATE AT&T onto "the network with more bars in more places", and keep iPod as the perennial favorite MP3 player pretty much since it was introduced, they'll probably keep pushing iPhones for a while.
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When someone purchases a device with Windows on it, usually it is becuase they want the Windows software, as many retailers carry devices without it,

In the case of the iphone, people want the pretty iphone/iPod, they don't give the OS a ssecond thought, it what the phone is "stuck" with.
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People buy their devices to accomplish certain tasks. What OS lies behind the ability to accomplish those tasks is irrelevant to the vast majority.

If you don't believe me, here's a simple test you can perform. Ask any 100 people what OS is running on their phone. If two or more actually know, then you're doing pretty well.
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Where is my friend Xunil!?!
James Quinn 7th Feb 2008
I's just gots too hear him on this one...heh heh heh

Pagan jim
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We also need...
nix_hed 8th Feb 2008
...a real Mike Cox and Loverock Davidson post here as well, and not just Lovey saying "I AM loved."
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Hey Jim.
xuniL_z 8th Feb 2008
You were looking for me? What's up?
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PRO MS writer like Mary Jo made the same conclusion as IDC (Not famous for being
PRO Apple) So what does it all mean? Honestly I have no idea I won't do the research
cause frankly it sounds good too me...:P However now there are multiple sources
claiming the same conclusion I wonder what their data is?

Pagan jim
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Oh, thanks.
xuniL_z 12th Feb 2008
I'm glad you look out for me. That's really nice.



I suspect that MJ has proven she's anything but Pro-MS for quite some time now, in fact she's resorted. like other bloggers here, to take stories and inflate them a bit against Microsoft.


Just because one reports on something, doesn't mean they are "Pro" on it.

Someone probably reports on Charles Manson's doings in prison now and then but it's likely they are not pro-Manson. wink
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This story is drivel.
Tigertank 7th Feb 2008
After all, Steve Balmer laughed his head off at the iphone. How can someone with such an astute grasp of the market be in error. I think you should recheck your facts and then issue us an apology.
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8.8
TripleII-21189418044173169409978279405827 7th Feb 2008
Combined a Coxian attitude with a Loverrock twist.

TripleII
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LOOK EVERYONE!@#*&#@#! HE MENTIONS ME!!!
Loverock Davidson 7th Feb 2008
I am loved >:)
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You are!
TripleII-21189418044173169409978279405827 7th Feb 2008
Your posts rarely fail to make me smile. Keep up the good work. grin

TripleII
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An OS platform is being compared to a hardware device. How does that work?


This is no different than saying, Vista lagging in OS sales on Macs. (Odds are it's got good inroads even then )


The comparison makes no sense whatsoever. Windows mobile has presence on far more devices than Apple has sold iPhones. It's a totally faulty comparison to begin with.


Try again. Maybe next time you can print how OS X is way behind Windows on DELL machines!!
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But the article does say this:

??Canalys estimates that Apple took 28% share of the fast growing US converged device market in Q4 2007...This was also enough to put Apple ahead of all Windows Mobile device vendors combined,?

"All Windows Mobile Device vendors" Not just those that make smartphones.

Now I don't have any insider information on the subject, but according to the information provided it appears that the iphone is outselling all devices that use Windows Mobile. If I'm reading it wrong, feel free to correct me. happy
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Amazing
SpikeyMike 7th Feb 2008
Apple overtook Microsoft on their first outing.

Given that Microsoft always needs a few releases to 'get it right' - do you think they'll do any better with version 7?

How's that BMW project working out? http://www.industrialnetworking.co.uk/mag/v8-2/n2.htm

Oh, yeah.
http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=43493

-Mike
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Look how well...
ebernet 7th Feb 2008
WIndows CE has worked for them in the HD DVD players. I mean, that OSS REALLY has
traction....
NOT!
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Amazing?
hamster0914 7th Feb 2008
Get it right, Mike, that model BMW was produced before Microsoft had anything to do with BMW.
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Windows Mobile sluggish
Dataland 7th Feb 2008
I'm not surprised that Windows Mobile isn't achieving higher market adoption. I have had a Mobile 6 (Motorola Q) for a few months now, and it's so slow that it is marginally usable. I'm not an Apple consumer (yet), but I am continually amazed what a slow and poor user experience that my Q provides me. I blame both Motorola and Microsoft. I blame Motorola for making the hardware and shipping it. And, I blame Microsoft for not setting higher hardware requirements (maybe Windows Mobile is inherently sluggish too - I haven't sampled enough Mobile devices to say this with confidence)

-- Jared
-- http://dataland.wordpress.com/
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Microsoft and it's supporters are distinguished by being obsessed with other companies--Apple, Google, et. al.

And with the same breath they say how its tremendous
Windows market share insulates from failure.

What is the real story? Is Microsoft so insecure that it
obsesses about it competitors, or is it a company secure
in its desktop monopoly?

Admit it. Microsoft is teetering on the brink of failure.
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hahahahahahahahahah
LoungeFlyX 7th Feb 2008
you obviously have no idea how much money they make ... or how fast they are growing every year. Yeah ... failure is just around the corner ... keep telling yourself that.
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Who is this "they"?
James Quinn 7th Feb 2008
Pagan jim
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I beleive the "they"
GuidingLight 7th Feb 2008
he was refering to was Microsoft, the company "on the brink of failure" acording to the previous posted
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Is that the smartphone market is only a very small percentage of devices that sell with Windows Mobile on them.

They dont count the 10s of millions of PDA style devices that sell with Windows Mobile on them.

WinMo is still outselling the iPhone by like 10:1. If you count the PDA/PDA-Phone market. iPhone does not even scratch the surface ... why do you think Steve Balmer was laughing ... it wasnt because he is stupid.
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PDA who buys a PDA anymore?
James Quinn 7th Feb 2008
Pagan jim
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hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
LoungeFlyX 7th Feb 2008
you obviously have no idea how much money they make ... and how fast they are growning.
0 Votes
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hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Tigertank 7th Feb 2008
hahahaha
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hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
SquishyParts 7th Feb 2008
hahahahahahahahahaha*cough* 80% of MS's money is made from the sales of office &
to OEM's hahahahahahahahahahahaha*cough**gasp haha they are hemorrhaging
money in the computer electronics space ack hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Windows mobile has been a dismal failure for 7 years choke*
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha Apple is beating 7 years of effort in less than a year
Huh ha cough*ack* gasp*choke...growing how by increasing licensing fees?
When the iPhone first came out and we all laughed at the fact that Apple's smartphone wouldn't allow you to install programs on it, had severely crippled email support, and probably had the worst text entry system imaginable, the apologists said, and I quote:
The iPhone isn't a smartphone and shouldn't be compared to one.

The iPhone is a media enabled phone, that's it, that's all. In the media enabled phone market, the iPhone hasn't even made a dent. Saying that the iPhone has "captured" 20% of the smartphone market would be like saying Toshiba has captured 99.9% of the sub-notebook market with the Satellite line of laptops. The Satellite isn't a sub-notebook so by looking at sales of a commodity item in a niche market, you can artificially make your product look like it is really popular!

The iPhone isn't a smartphone, it can't do 99% of what a smartphone can do, so it has captured exactly 0% of the smartphone market. The iPhone is a media enabled cell phone and at 2 million sold, is a tiny, tiny, tiny bit player in the media enabled cell phone market. But hey, if you have to lie about what your product is to make yourself feel better about the company that has gouged you for it, go ahead, we all enjoy the laughs you grant us!! happy
Mary Jo certainly isn't right? IDC is not know for that either. So why complain
about Apples fans here. It's not us. We are innocent in this seems that others
outside of Apple fan base are calling the iPhone a smart phone now if that stand so
be it. You nor I can change what the industry ends up calling the iPhone and if
Mary Jo feels it's a Smart Phone and writes this article you should not be so quick to
turn around and attack Apple fans because of it. We don't make the news and in
this case we don't even report it. Someone else is doing this.... me I'm just enjoying
it.

Pagan jim
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Don't you just love the kind of element that is counted among the Apple faithful.

He's all yours Jimbo, you can stand shoulder to shoulder with your Apple brethern.

He reminds us that all of the Apple zealots here are agreeing with these comparisons, which you've already eluded to without a doubt, so i wouldn't exactly say that it's not the Apple Zealots buy in to this misleading story that is as much to blame as any other part of it.
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Known MS fan writer ie Mary Jo and another which to my knowledge is known to be
more or less neutral ie IDC writer of articles that point to the same conclusion. Even if
you doubt IDC's quality and desire to be accurate (WHY?) you have to admit that Mary
Jo has every reason to get it right she has a real investment in MS and should be
double no triple checking her facts here. Besides her article claims that iPhones are
outselling ALL windows mobile devces not just phones.

Pagan jim
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...because we all know that's how he rolls.
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Wait a second
Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 11th Feb 2008
wern't you one of those people comparing it to a smartphone? Seems to me you got what you wanted.

What's wrong now? Have you had a change of heart? happy
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I am by no way an MS enthusiast. I just wanted to disclose that before I say anything else.

Having said that though, I really am tired of the constant comparison between MS and Apple. But since this is an article about the iPhone and Windows Mobile 6, let's concentrate on that.

Here's the deal, the operating system on the iPhone was written for the iPhone and only the iPhone. Windows Mobile is meant to be used on any array of mobile devices. Of course that doesn't excuse the fact that Windows Mobile may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the UI on the iPhone, but it does mean MS has a lot more to consider than than Apple does.

It can't load Windows Mobile with a graphically intense UI and risk alienating phone manufacturers because they have to load their phones with more memory or faster processors.

Maybe if MS produced both the hardware and software, we might see something better, but let's not forget that Windows Mobile really does turn your cellphone into a business tool. The iPhone is a far cry form being a smart phone.

Maybe it will be once Apple releases the SDK, but for now there is absolutely no reason to refer to the iPhone as a smartphone.

In fact, their are many phones out there that cost less than the iPhone and can do more. They may not be as beautiful, but they do the job.
0 Votes
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Woman are clueless to tech
ZDNET_guest666 9th Sep 2008
I need a fact check on this aisle!

Even jobs says they don't have the market share this anti-MSFT FUD zealot is saying.

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/09/07/apples-new-target-128-million-iphones-in-2008/
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Apple to oranges. The author is talking about the market for "converged devices", not the entire market for mobile phones. In fact, Apple has a 6.5% share worldwide in the market that she cites.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/22410

So I guess you are clueless to statistics.
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RE: Windows+Mobile+falls+behind+iPhone+in+latest+mobile-market+numbers
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 10th Oct
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0 Votes
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RE: Windows+Mobile+falls+behind+iPhone+in+latest+mobile-market+numbers
makrejktt27-24353596798417967599295365449010 Updated - 12th Nov
In truth liked the nfl jersey item reduced doc apply for.Totally with thanks!nfl jersey Exceptnfl jersey ional.

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