Microsoft gave a peek at the first Windows Phone 7 products earlier this month when it formally announced its follow-on Windows Mobile in the race for smartphone glory vs. Apple (See: Windows Phone 7 vs. Apple iOS), Google and RIM. Microsoft’s current Windows Mobile OS recently fell behind Google Android in market share among U.S. smartphone subscribers, according to ComScore.
Microsoft has also failed to capitalize on the dissatisfaction with Apple and its public war against Adobe’s Flash, the software that enables a good portion of the web’s video and multimedia capabilities. Google is taking advantage of the iPhone’s lack of Flash support and is adding it to Android phones, a move that Microsoft would have been smart to emulate.
Windows Phone 7 is a solid start, but Microsoft is still going to be playing catch-up for the foreseeable future.
Mobile is a market the company can’t afford to let slip away, and it does have loads of cash to throw at the effort. Ultimately, it’s good for everyone if Microsoft can become a solid competitor to the likes of Apple, RIM and Google, because it’ll mean increasingly better phones from everyone.
Windows Phone 7 Development
Comments