Mobile and Wireless: Microsoft's Windows Mobile Strategy: 10 Reasons It's Failing (So Far)
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Microsoft is in deep trouble in the mobile market. The software giant has been trying desperately over the years to catch up with both Apple's iOS and iPhone and Google's Android, but is now finding itself losing ground at an alarming rate. In fact, according to one research firm, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 vendor partners sold just 2.7 million devices in the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple, on the other hand, sold more than 37 million iPhones during the same period. And Android vendors? Well, let's just say that, in total, they put both numbers to shame. So, what's happened with Microsoft's mobile strategy? If one were to ask the company, it would likely say that it expected to be in this position and that its partnership with Nokia should help it catch up in due time. But let's not forget that Microsoft is far behind the curve here, and there's no sign of consumer interest in the iPhone or Android-based devices slowing. Simply put, Microsoft might not have a place in today's mobile market. Here, eWEEK takes a look at why Microsoft's mobile strategy is failing, and examines what the company and its vendor partners have done wrong to get it into this position.
Where Are the Vendors?
Looking around the Android ecosystem, it's hard to find many companies that aren't making devices with the operating system. When it comes to Windows Phone 7, however, the number of vendors using the operating system can be counted on a single hand. That's not a good thing.
