We are living in a world full of information readily available on the World Wide Web. Did you know that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile is the only browser that doesn’t support HTML 5? What is going on here Microsoft? Are you so busy peddling your own proprietary software that you can’t realize that your suffocating yourself? It’s all very clear from the Windows Mobile consumer’s point of view: we need a better browser with Windows Mobile 7.
Every now and then Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s CEO, hints that Windows Mobile 7 will encompass many features that the Zune mp3 player currently uses. Oh, yay. Thanks. Now I can play MP3′s on my phone? That’s revolutionary. </sarcasm>
Even though I am an avid Microsoft fanboy, I can’t leave Windows Mobile 7 unaccountable for what we as consumers expect. I mean, we are giving them hundreds of hard-earned dollars, right? Shouldn’t we have a stable browser by now?
As 2009 winds down, the excitement grows for the release date of Windows Mobile 7. Still unannounced, Microsoft will most likely release their new mobile OS in October, 2010. But is it too late? The iPhone dominated the mobile market in 2007. And in 2009 Google’s new Android mobile platform swept up whatever the iPhone didn’t grab, especially now that Android 2.0 just released. Anybody in between either had a Smartphone or Pocket PC that ran Windows Mobile 6.
Now it’s Microsoft’s turn again. And remember, Microsoft is usually never 3rd in the competition. Of course, you have to give it to Apple for jumping into the Smartphone arena so aggressively, they really did do a phenomenal job marketing their iPhone. And Google… well they didn’t need to do much to grab the attention of the public.
The battle continues, and we won’t know who really deserves the Smartphone marketshare until sometime in 2010. I always gauge the success of the iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile between each other using Google Trends. This Google tools allows you to compare multiple keyword search terms based on popularity. Notice how Microsoft has a significant lead over Google Android, even right after Android 2.0 came out. This shows you the kind of lead Microsoft has, and why they aren’t necessarily worried about Apple or Google. As long as they’re in the top 3, they won’t sweat it. But Steve Ballmer will not settle for #3, or #2. Even #1 is a little shady but I guess that will have to do 
Google Android vs Windows Mobile, Google Trends
We all need to be on the same page. What is a Smartphone exactly? A Smartphone is an electronic device that has mobile capabilities (i.e, you can call someone with it) and also has basic PC functions. Smartphones are not simply phones that run Windows Mobile. A Blackberry is a smartphone, for example.
Typically, if your phone has a touch screen, it is referred to as a Pocket PC rather than a Smartphone. Pocket PC’s have more PC functionality overall.
Smartphones are here to stay for the next decade or so. What will change though is who possesses the majority of Smartphone market share in this time. According to market share data from Canalys, the iPhone, Blackberry, and Google Android operating systems took a huge bite out of Windows Mobile’s warm apple pie in 2009. In fact, Android surpassed Windows Mobile’s growth rate in Q2 of 2009. Uh oh. This has scared the shit out of the Windows Mobile team, which explains why Steve Ballmer (Microsoft’s CEO) is revamping his Windows Mobile team personally. And since HTC manufactures 80% of Smartphones today, Microsoft doesn’t want them signing any long term contracts with Google Android or Palm.
{democracy:2}
I’m certainly an avid Windows Mobile fan, but Microsoft did lose in the Smartphone market share challenge of 2009. Definitely expect more from Microsoft with Windows Mobile 7. If they don’t pull through, they will be out for good.
What is going on here? Project Pink? It’s a codename for the new Windows Mobile team that Microsoft is thrusting full throttle. Only a few minor details are known about project Pink. In short, it involves the integration of the Zune platform with Windows Mobile 7, but like I said the details are shady. It’s great news though to see Microsoft making innovated, albeit risky decisions.
