Can Windows Mobile Grow 50%?

[Admin]

Despite stiff competition from the likes of BlackBerry, Apple and (soon to be) Google, Microsoft is predicting 50% growth in handset sales for both 2008 and 2009. This is a serious figure and, if nothing else, a statement of intent to their competitors, but how will they make this happen?

Whether you’re a fan of Windows Mobile or not, history cannot deny that Microsoft’s mobile platform has, at times, been woeful. Microsoft refused to take their ‘desktop computing’ hat off when designing a mobile operating system, and the result was a host of complex, slow and very fiddly devices which were very poor mobile computing devices with a phone bolted on at the end of the design process. During this time the likes of Research In Motion were designing excellent hardware with a proprietary operating system and Apple were busy designing the iPhone (an overall mediocre device, but one that sets the benchmark for user interfaces going forward). The roadmap from Microsoft’s competitors is also strong for this year, with RIM about the release the BlackBerry Bold (with rumours of touch screen devices later in the year) and Apple prepping the 3G iPhone (if reports are to be believed), so where do Microsoft see the growth coming from when everyone else has been (and continues to be) much stronger?

The simple answer is licensed partners, most notably HTC. HTC have almost single handed pulled Windows Mobile’s socks up and made it (for the first time) look like a product that can compete with the top performers. They’ve done this by tweaking that cumbersome desktop-like mobile operating system and turned it in to a proper mobile device that can be navigated around whilst on the move (without being forced to use a stylus all the time). HTC have done something with Windows Mobile which Microsoft could never had achieved themselves, purely because the design mindset is different – Microsoft always try to design a mobile computer, whereas HTC design a phone with computing capabilities; the later works.

Microsoft really owes the majority of its recent mobile success to HTC, and devices like the Touch Diamond hitting the market gives Windows Mobile its best fighting chance ever. Will they hit 50% growth over the next year? Even in the current uncertain financial climate they might, but it will be probably be due to overall growth in the smartphone market coupled with innovative devices from the likes of HTC, rather than stealing market share from RIM and Apple (which no doubt Microsoft would prefer). Nobody can argue however that better competition ultimately means better devices, something we should all be excited about.

[kumru]

yes definately windows mobile grow. mostly persons want PDA mobile.