Like it or not, Windows Mobile is a predominant mobile OS. It rules the roost, along with Symbian, and although Android will shortly beat its butt – I’d expect it to reach parity in about 2012 – we’re still going to have to live with up to 30 million WinMo 6.5 devices by the end of the year.
This number also presumably includes the full existing install base, so it’s not like they’re going to sell 25 million of these off the cuff.
Take note, however, that this prediction is coming from the GCR Mobile Tea in China and that we can expect to see new models from HTC, Acer, Samsung, and LG. Also note that WinMo 6.5 on HTC phones, at least, look so much like the Hero SenseUI interface that it’s scary.
I really hope MobileCrunch doesnt delete this comment but I do love this line. (and I quote)
“Also note that WinMo 6.5 on HTC phones, at least, look so much like the Hero SenseUI interface that it’s scary.”
I am sorry, but really? TouchFlo was out long before SenseUI. SenseUI was obviously a carry-over from that. how biased was this post? parrity by 2012? haha, anyone with a brain must know that Android is for people that like to play smart.
Screw Android and screw Google. I cannot wait until Google goes bye bye.
The only thing they are comparing is that the picture here and the picture of the HTC Hero look amazingly similar. They are not comparing what came from what or what was first . WinMo 6.5 though is a clunky POS when compared to the newer Android interfaces and the iPhone (IMHO). Go Google!
More to the point, perhaps, is how many WinMo 7 devices there will be by 2012.
The news that Microsoft is to launch two mobile phones under its own name would suggest, if true, their original launch strategy for that OS now lies in tatters.
Rather than have hardware partners bid for the rights to market WinMo devices, Microsoft may have been left with no option than to leak the news they will now do it themselves.
http://www.reviewsreviewed.co.uk/index.php/mobileblog/The-smart-money-says-Microsoft-will-launch-its-own-phones.html
In what way is WinMo predominant? I can’t think of one single way in which it is predominant — well, in no way which is good.
Number of devices sold worldwide. If you count Windows Mobile handhelds the same way Apple counts iPhones (which is to say a running tally since the first unit was sold), then there are a staggering number of WinMo devices out there. They have been selling 15-25 million units a year, for many years.
Don’t get me wrong, Windows Mobile is crap, but they have been in the game for a long time, and for about 5 years there, they were pretty much the only game in town. While Palm languished, and RIM did everything they could to block 3rd-party developers from making any software that didn’t require their enterprise server, WinMo just kept selling a steady pace of units.
I was counting total devices sold: that’s the stat where they get their asses kicked by Symbian and RIM. Microsoft has never sold 25 million devices in a year — the past year was their best year with 18 million. Have no idea when you think this 5 year reign occurred.
I think you have a very short memory. RIM just passed Windows Mobile in market share in Q2 2008
http://jkontherun.com/2008/09/12/smartphone-mark/
From late 2004 to early 2008 (admittedly 5 years might have been a bit of an exaggeration) Windows Mobile was second only to Symbian in market share.
As far as the 25 million figure goes, it depends entirely on how yoou areu count it, which is why I gave a range. Yes, y correct that Windows Mobile has never sold 25 million phones, but if you count other devices that use Windows Mobile, like Symbol handheld inventory control and POS systems, or handhelds for government contracts like DoD and census input, then they have easily hit the 25 million licenses in a year mark.
The story you link to talks about 30 handsets (as in different makes and models.) It doesn’t mention 30 million handsets anywhere.
Nice touch with the NatLamp pic!
Windows Mobile is the best OS for enterprise environment and is by all means a very respectable proposition to consumers. More than Android nor Nokia in my opinion. The messaging applications and the integration with Outlook and exchange server are obviously flawless. Lots of applications are available, great browsers and other app, widgets, customisation tools, maps, remote desktop functions and so on. I have to admit that HTC did a phenomenal job by adding the Touchflo UI on top of windows mobile and that corrects a lot of WM stylus driven history. But from an OS perspective, WM is a very solid environment and I believe there to stay. To add on Lee’s comment, well over 50 millions windows mobile powered devices have been sold and microsoft is on its way to add 12-15 more in 2009.