Microsoft exec predicts big growth for Windows Mobile
Microsoft sees big growth for its Windows Mobile operating system.
A Microsoft executive in Asia told Reuters on Tuesday that sales will increase at least 50 percent over the next year as demand for smartphones picks up.
Eddie Wu, the software company's managing director of OEM embedded devices in Asia, said the company expects to sell 20 million "units" of its software in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which ends in June, according to the article. And the company expects to grow at least 50 percent annually over the next two years, he added. Microsoft sold more than 11 million units of its Windows Mobile software in its 2006-2007 fiscal year, which ended June a year ago.
Wu told Reuters that the company is seeing the fastest growth in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Brazil, Russia, and India. Demand is also strong in Europe and the United States.
Windows Mobile is a software operating system used on smartphones. Companies such as Motorola, Samsung, and High Tech Electronics (HTC) have all released products that use it. And Sony Ericsson introduced a new Windows Mobile phone earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Smartphones, which offer e-mail, Web surfing, music, and other Internet services, are growing in popularity. In the first quarter of 2008, sales of smartphones in the U.S. accounted for about 17 percent of all mobile phone sales, the NPD Group reported. This was an increase of 10 percent over the previous year. The increase in smartphone demand comes as sales of cell phones in general are declining in the U.S.
Microsoft has been working hard to cash in on the growing demand for smartphones. Earlier this year, Microsoft released version 6.1 of theWindows Mobile operating system. This version includes an updated browser, which is supposed to make Internet surfing on a mobile phone look and feel like it does on a desktop. The company also has added support for Adobe Systems' Flash.
Windows Mobile 6.1 will be available on a number of manufacturers' phones including HTC, Samsung Electronics, Motorola, and Pantech. And carriers including AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and Alltel have already announced that they will offer the upgrade.
Despite predictions for strong growth, Microsoft still faces tough competition, and it may have a hard time increasing its market share as competition intensifies. Apple is rumored to be getting ready to launch the 3G, or third-generation, version of the iPhone in a few weeks. The company has already announced software upgrades that should make the iPhone more appealing for business users.
What's more, new phones using Google's Android operating system will soon hit the market. And competitors such as Research In Motion with its BlackBerry devices and Symbian, which is used on Nokia and LG Electronics phones, are also expected to continue to grow.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
Then two of my friends say, whatever, we are getting WinMobile (version 6), after a year, one of my friend stepped on his phone broke it, threw it out and got a Spring phone loaded with palm (works great), his WinMobile phone didn't even last the 2 year contract, more like 1 year of frustration. The other friend also hates it, but because he got a job a tMicrosoft, he is stuck using it, he hates it everyday!
Microsoft has been promissing a lot of trash for years, never delivering. Their phones are garbage!!!! not worth anything but a lot of lost money and frustration.
Then two of my friends say, whatever, we are getting WinMobile (version 6), after a year, one of my friend stepped on his phone broke it, threw it out and got a Spring phone loaded with palm (works great), his WinMobile phone didn't even last the 2 year contract, more like 1 year of frustration. The other friend also hates it, but because he got a job a tMicrosoft, he is stuck using it, he hates it everyday!
Microsoft has been promissing a lot of trash for years, never delivering. Their phones are garbage!!!! not worth anything but a lot of lost money and frustration.
This is where Windows Mobile lost it:
"This version includes an updated browser, which is supposed to make Internet surfing on a mobile phone look and feel like it does on a desktop. " Who wants a smart phone that looks and feels like a desktop computer? Are you nuts?
Steve Jobs, when he was asked about claims that the Zune would take a large chunk of the protable music player market, said: "Was he inebriated? Do you actually know anyone who owns a Zune?"
Heh. Enjoying the Kool-Aid? Apple has a target of selling 10 million phones TOTAL by year's end. (And kudos for them in doing so.)
In comparison, WinMo is on target to sell *20 MILLION* copies of WinMo in just the one fiscal year ending in June.
I'll leave the trivial web searches up to you. Come out of the bubble. The fresh air is nice, the lies stink. Most of use use phones for talking, not as figures of idolotry, anyway.
I'm using a Cingular 3125 phone. I'm hoping my next phone will be an HTC Touch Diamond.
the iPhone 3G does not stand for third generation as you said but for HSPA network capabilities
it will be the second generation !
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/447192
- by benjaminstraight July 24, 2008 3:57 AM PDT
- Win Mo will work the bugs out. Maybe the prediction is right.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(22 Comments)