Lack of Multitasking, Carriers Hinders Windows Phone 7

 

5. Multitasking 

Android 2.2 is regarded as having a solid multitasking option built into the software. And it's something that customers have been quite pleased with. But Windows Phone 7 doesn't feature full multitasking. Microsoft said that the feature is coming, but until it's there and it works as well as Android's option, it will be hard for Microsoft to keep pace with Google's OS. 

6. Carrier availability 

Carrier availability continues to be a major issue for Windows Phone 7. As of this writing, devices running Microsoft's operating system are available on T-Mobile and AT&T. That's a major problem. T-Mobile's subscriber base is much smaller than that of AT&T's or Verizon's. But AT&T has the iPhone, which attracts the most customers. Android, on the other hand, is available on all carriers, making it far more likely to attract consumers and enterprise customers. 

7. Consumers believe the hype 

Make no mistake that consumers watch out for news about how Windows Phone 7 is faring in the mobile market. When news breaks that Microsoft's platform is being outsold at a ratio of 15-to-1, it will make some consumers question whether they should buy it. This can only help keep a lid on the platform's sales. The more such news that breaks, the harder it will be for Microsoft to match Google. 

8. If it can beat Apple, it can beat Microsoft 

So far, Google's Android platform has outsold sales of iOS-based devices. And that trend is likely to continue. Considering Google has been able to beat Apple in the mobile market, there is no question that it can do the same with Microsoft. After all, Microsoft is the company that released the ill-fated Kin smartphones that are now, surprisingly, resurging in the market. It's also the company that failed to see the changing smartphone landscape until it was arguably too late. 

9. The ads aren't working 

Microsoft has said that it will spend a total of $500 million on advertisements to promote Windows Phone 7 devices. But it's clear now that all those ads didn't help the platform as much as Microsoft would like. If the ads don't help, it's hard to see where Microsoft can go next to revive its mobile operating system. Android might have already won the battle. 

10. Microsoft's mobile team seems lost 

It's hard to understand what Microsoft's mobile team is up to. First, the division failed to deliver Windows Phone 7 in an adequate time frame as Google and Apple continued to capitalize on the touch-screen craze. Then the division offered up the Kin smartphones. Now, Windows Phone 7 is having trouble gaining traction. Microsoft's mobile division seems lost, and until it finds some footing Microsoft could continue to be cornered out of the mobile market.