Microsoft misses Windows Mobile goal

Microsoft conceded Wednesday the it missed its targets for Windows Mobile, shipping 18 million copies of the cell phone operating system in its just-ended fiscal year.

For some time, executives had been saying the company would ship more than 20 million copies in the 12 months ended June 30

Andy Lees, who recently took over the mobile unit from Pieter Knook, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that some phone makers shipped devices later than Microsoft had expected. Lees declined to name the manufacturers in question.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Eh. Not interesting news. This belongs on a cellphone site.

[Penguinisto]

Now Dan, don't feel bad... at least they made 90% of their goal!

OTOH, I do wonder why Microsoft even bothers anymore... Symbian domainates globally, RIM dominates in North America, and WM has consistently failed to rise in marketshare.

I know, you'll ask the same about the iPhone, but the iPhone actually is revolutionary, and managed to grow like crazy (and they're really tough to keep in stock). Apple makes a solid profit off of it, and apparently it seems to sell without being a revenue drag.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Title should be...Apple SHIPS one million iPhones...in several months time.
Nokia SELLS over a million phones a DAY ! Way over a million.
Take THAT Mr Whipple !!!

[MaLvaDo39]

Nokia sells many models of phones from cheap pieces to somewhat ok smart phones in all parts of the world.
Apple sells one great smart phone model to only very limited countries and now have expanded to many more.

Your comparison and logic is extremely flawed and exposes you.

[Penguinisto]

Translation: Toilet paper manufacturers take pride in the fact that they outsell parchment makers by wide margins!

[Galaxy5]

Wow, AppleSuxLeo, I was a fanboy, but you have totally destroyed my morale. I sold all my Apple products on eBay and bought a PC with Vista after I read your brilliant and well thought out post. In addition, I threw my iPhone under a train. Please let me know how I can subscribe to your newsletter of enlightening computer insights, such as "That THAT Mr Whipple".

[AppleSuxLeo]

Yes I must admit there is only ONE CrackBerry. And it is a Canadian product of Research In Motion. The iPhone will never equal the Blackberry.

[Penguinisto]

if the iPhone truly has Push email and Exchange compatibility, then RIM is about to be in for a very rude surprise over the next three years...

[Maccess]

Later than expected? Maybe its because the hardware vendors don't like making stuff there isn't that much demand for. Symbian outsells everyone else by a huge margin, in the year the iPhone has been in the market it has become the, albeit distant, number 2, then there's the Blackberry, and forthcoming Android and LiMo. The only way Windows Mobile phones are gong to jump in sales is when there's a downloadable Android or LiMo OS one can install on the hardware, just like the way companies buy Vista Business licensed computers so they can install XP.

[DrtyDogg]

Funny according to Gartner in America the iPhone was only the third best selling smartphone of 07. Behind a blackberry, and a windows mobile phone.

[Penguinisto]

@DD: citation needed. Canalys says iPhone is #2 in North America (behind RIM).

[DrtyDogg]

My bad I mis-quoted in the original comment, it was NDP not Gartner.

@Penguinisto: Try looking around at several objective places, just reciting the numbers Cupertino gives you makes you look like a shill.

[Penguinisto]

Canalys is an Apple division now?

Man - I want what you've been smoking...

[Penguinisto]

Just for fun, here's my cite. Where's yours?

iPhone #3 globally, #2 in North America:
http://www.canalys.com/pr/2008/r2008021.htm

[paul613]

I happen to love my Windows Mobile 6 Professional Pocket PC (a Verizon XV6800 by HTC, aka "Sprint Mogul"). The platform is growing up, and there is a tremendous assortment of software from clever developers, many of whom seem to live in Europe. The main problem with Windows Mobile is low resolution: It seems to be stuck in a 320x240, small-glass time warp. HTC is now launching some 640x480 (VGA) models, but their screens remain a puny 2.8 inches. Give us 640x480, 512x384 (classic Mac), or a widescreen 480x272 on a 3.5-inch LCD, and now we're talkin'.

[catch23]

Well, at least that is 18 million phones that don't need to be jail-broken to be used the way the buyer wants

[Penguinisto]

...instead they're used only in the ways that the phone carrier wants. Some improvement, eh?

[caxqueiroz]

hahahahah. Apple is not the only player. BTW, Apple doesnt count (1 product player). Symbian/Nokia and RIM are kicking WM ass!!