NEWS ANALYSIS: Microsoft Windows Phone 8 is launching soon. And the software giant's mobile operating system might just be more popular than its predecessor.
Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 was announced back in June and immediately made an impression.
The operating system, which will launch later this year, comes with a host of
improvements, including a better Start screen, near-field communication support
and new mapping features that are designed to help folks not only find out
where they're going, but also locate points of interest.
Microsoft
expects Windows Phone 8 to perform even better on the market than its
predecessor. Of course, that's not all that difficult. Customers who found more
to like in Apple's iPhone and Android largely ignored Windows Phone 7. Windows
Phone 8, therefore, has put Microsoft at a crossroads. Either the operating
system will drive Microsoft to success or push it even farther down the mobile
ladder.
So far, it appears that Windows Phone 8 might just help Microsoft achieve success.
The operating system is by no means perfect and it too early to tell how well
Windows 8 devices will actually sell, but as of this writing, it appears to be
a winner.
Read on to find out why Windows Phone 8 could be a success when it launches later
this year.
1. The home page is a great improvement
Microsoft delivered a new Start screen with Windows Phone 8 that allows for easy control
of tiles and the ability to see more information in the opening pane. With the
new addition, it should make it much easier for users to navigate and find
information.
2. Vendors are lining up
Vendors
are quite happy to jump on the Windows Phone 8 bandwagon. At IFA in Berlin,
Samsung announced its first Windows Phone 8 device. Nokia is expected to offer
up its own handsets running the operating system next week. Others will follow
soon. Vendors are lining up to get their hands on Windows Phone 8.
3. The Samsung case will help
Apple's victory over Samsung could be a boon for Windows Phone 8. The victory could
make Samsung warm a bit more to Microsoft and Windows Phone and prompt other
Android vendors to at least consider the Microsoft's mobile OS to hedge their
market bets. Believe it or not, Microsoft might prove to be the largest
benefactor of Apple's $1.05 billion victory over Samsung.
4. Nokia is still a threat
Nokia might be down, but it's definitely not out. And the company's brand is still
valued quite highly among consumers in emerging markets. Considering that Nokia
and Microsoft are bedfellows with Windows Phone, it's possible that
the
company's handsets could help Windows Phone 8.
5. Microsoft's control is important
Microsoft has made the smart decision, like Apple, to fully control the design of its
operating system. By doing so, it curtails the varied experiences customers get
in the Android ecosystem where multiple editions of operating system run
concurrently on different phone models. It also allows Microsoft to maintain
stronger security, since it controls the code. It's a smart idea.
6. The designs look solid
When it comes to design, both Microsoft and its vendor partners appear to be
spot-on. The operating system is well-built, easy to navigate and seems to
anticipate user demands.
Samsung's
Windows Phone 8-based device, the ATIV S, is downright beautiful. It's nice
to see Microsoft and its vendors partners actually go for strong design for
once.
7. The apps are coming
Although Microsoft got off to a late start with mobile apps, the company has quickly
made some inroads. As more people buy Windows Phone, there'll be a much better
chance of its platform catching up to Google Play and Apple's App Store. It's
not always considered, but apps and the growth of application marketplaces is
extremely important.
8. It's nice to see new mapping
Microsoft's new mapping features in Windows Phone 8 could very well be its best addition.
Thanks to help from Nokia's mapping services, the operating system will now
offer built-in turn-by-turn navigation in many countries, more detailed maps,
and the ability to store those maps offline. In some ways Windows Phone 8's
mapping is better than anything Apple or Google are offering in their own
operating systems.
9. A similar view across operating systems
Microsoft has made the smart decision to deliver a very similar experience across Windows
Phone 8 and Windows 8. By doing so, it might be able to attract more Windows 8
customers to its mobile operating system, since they'll feel right at home with
its design.
Windows
8 might just be the Trojan horse Microsoft is counting onâand everyone is
forgetting about.
10. Strong NFC integration
The future of the mobile market resides with near-field communication. That
technology, which allows for mobile products to wireless communicate with other
devices, is a key component in Windows Phone 8. According to Microsoft, users will
be able to make mobile payments and use the NFC features built into its
operating system for a host of other uses. It'll be a nice addition.
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