Why Windows Phone will beat Android

[Elimentals]

Judging Microsoft's new direction based on their old ways would be foolish. Whatever tactics used to own the market, don't think the other boys (Apple & Google) are different. Business is business.

There are thousands and thousands of people working at Microsoft. Yeah, even guys like you and me who just want a device that works nicely. So don't judge them according to one stereotype view.

Explain this internal memo then?

The Windows API is so broad, so deep, and so functional that most Independent Software Vendors would be crazy not to use it. And it is so deeply embedded in the source code of many Windows apps that there is a huge switching cost to using a different operating system instead... It is this switching cost that has given the customers the patience to stick with Windows through all our mistakes, our buggy drivers, our high TCO (total cost of ownership), our lack of a sexy vision at times, and many other difficulties [...] Customers constantly evaluate other desktop platforms, [but] it would be so much work to move over that they hope we just improve Windows rather than force them to move. In short, without this exclusive franchise called the Windows API, we would have been dead a long time ago.

 

[AJKock]

What is the point you are trying to make? Who didn't develop like this back in the day? Secondly you are referring to the desktop version. We are talking about the Phone version and like I said, there are many people/departments with their own agendas and memos. Thirdly, to what will any normal human being switched too? Linux? Seriously? Windows supports many variant types of PC setups. Of course it will be buggy. Thinking that it will work wonderfully on all is a fantasy. The Apple tries to control this by building their own machines, but they ALSO have issues. Read the many forums the Apple fanboys don't talk about, but do exist. Apple frequently also crashes. Linux? Try supporting the amount of retail software and games Windows does and we will talk again about being buggy. It is the reality of features.

Once again. What has this got to do with Windows Phone 7?
I could add accounts from many different email providers. My phone automatically talks to the calendars of those providers to setup meetings. I can't say the same with some other phones. It works for me and that is what is important. You don't have to like a brand for it to be able to better than your preferred brand. If it strategise and executes better than the opposition, it will win the race (for now).

 

[louisvd]

I agree with AJ Kock - find out what your needs are and get a phone that matches. But don't forget, that sometimes the Geeks are RIGHT.

I tested out my iMate running Windows Mobile 5. It seemed wonderful. At first. I can truly say, my experience was so horrid I swore never to get a Windows Mobile phone again.

Then my wife wanted the Samsung C6625 - WM6. I told her "Don't" but she wouldn't listen. Now she too can't wait for her contract to end so that she can get something that works!

Window's track record so far is very bad. It will take a lot to get me to trust them again. In my opinion, they write code for PC's in "bloatware" style -- not make the code efficient and elegant, but rather, just throw more memory at it. Sysinternals wrote code for admin tasks on Windows systems. These files - mostly under 300k (think about uTorrent) would do wonders. A similar program written by Microsoft themselves would be much bigger. So now, to write code on a device with less RAM, smaller CPU's, and NOT to change your mindset is asking for trouble.

I know I won't change your mind - but to me they've proven themselves unworthy.

 

[AfricanTech]

Sjoe!

I don't know hey! Never say never..

My first smartphone was that big Nokia brick thing with the full keyboard - brilliant in it's day - replaced my PalmPilot+Candy Bar
Then came a Windows Mobile phone (iMate Jamin) that converged my cellphone and PDA with a stunning screen - brilliant for me - tweaked to my hearts content
Then another WM phone - TouchPro2 - another brilliant phone in it's day - also tweaked to my hearts content
Now - a Desire Z running Android - it's phenomenal and I'm still busy tweaking
Tomorrow, who knows....

Only phone I haven't been tempted by is the iPhone - why, no physical keyboard

So ultimately, the winner will be the one that keeps innovating

 

[BeVonk!]

Edison said something to the effect that failures are valuable because from them you learn what doesn't work. This may apply to Microsoft and its mobile technologies. I'm sure MS learned valuable lessons from their failures, lessons that may still lie ahead of the other big boys. From what I've read thus far MS is on a far better road now, and they are acquiring valuable intellectual property through acquisitions and strategic partnerships (like Nokia and RIM).

 

[Elimentals]

Edison said something to the effect that failures are valuable because from them you learn what doesn't work. This may apply to Microsoft and its mobile technologies. I'm sure MS learned valuable lessons from their failures, lessons that may still lie ahead of the other big boys. From what I've read thus far MS is on a far better road now, and they are acquiring valuable intellectual property through acquisitions and strategic partnerships (like Nokia and RIM).

You forgot Skype, but if you take M$ history I have a different viewpoint, they building up IP to fight with. I will bookmark this post and when the court cases come rolling in I will go I told you so

 

[JerryMungo]

You forgot Skype, but if you take M$ history I have a different viewpoint, they building up IP to fight with. I will bookmark this post and when the court cases come rolling in I will go I told you so

Yeah ROFL, they study competitors products, identify those that breach copyright, aquire them and sue the pants off the companies in breach

 

[BeVonk!]

You forgot Skype, but if you take M$ history I have a different viewpoint, they building up IP to fight with. I will bookmark this post and when the court cases come rolling in I will go I told you so

No arguments, they will fight, but its primarily about winning the mobile phones OS race, and the fights are part of the process to delay/distract/derail the opposition to get and maintain a lead.

 

[AJKock]

And Apple is not sueing Samsung?
Yeah sometimes geeks are right But seriously, Windows phone 7 is not anything like the previous versions. Most people that played with my phone commented on how smooth the transitions were. Personally I would recommend every to wait for the Mango update to see if SA gets marketplace access. But I expect it would, seeing that Google tried to sneak a quick announcement in before MS with their App store access.

 

[Jonno2343]

And Apple is not sueing Samsung?
Yeah sometimes geeks are right But seriously, Windows phone 7 is not anything like the previous versions. Most people that played with my phone commented on how smooth the transitions were. Personally I would recommend every to wait for the Mango update to see if SA gets marketplace access. But I expect it would, seeing that Google tried to sneak a quick announcement in before MS with their App store access.

South Africa is getting the app marketplace later this year when Mango comes out, it was announced at MIX.

 

[FatBoySlim]

If the Google I O was anything to go by, check it out on YouTube, then these guys are smoking something

Sent from my GT-P1000 using MyBroadband Android App

 

[Jonno2343]

If the Google I O was anything to go by, check it out on YouTube, then these guys are smoking something

Sent from my GT-P1000 using MyBroadband Android App

I agree with you. Android will find it's way into many more devices (dishwashers, TVs, etc).
According to Gartner and ITC WP7 will overtake iOS, something I can see happening with this Nokia deal. If even half of those with a Nokia smartphone had to switch to the new Nokia WP7 devices, it will surpass the the number of iPhones. With the new features coming in Mango and into the future (Skype integration - think built into the OS directly) I think this may be possible.

 

[FatBoySlim]

On your Nokia comment, agreed as I think there are a lot people who are attached to the Nokia brand and would be none the wiser that Ms and Nokia have a deal going, which might propel them ahead of Ios, they literally have one crack at it, if these users dont like the look and feel of Ms, it may be their last Nokia.

I agree with you. Android will find it's way into many more devices (dishwashers, TVs, etc).
According to Gartner and ITC WP7 will overtake iOS, something I can see happening with this Nokia deal. If even half of those with a Nokia smartphone had to switch to the new Nokia WP7 devices, it will surpass the the number of iPhones. With the new features coming in Mango and into the future (Skype integration - think built into the OS directly) I think this may be possible.

Sent from my GT-P1000 using MyBroadband Android App

 

[Elimentals]

If the Google I O was anything to go by, check it out on YouTube, then these guys are smoking something

Agreed, well you just have to look at Android@home for one.

If that takes off before Microsoft can counter it, it will be one hell of an uphill battle to recover.

 

[Elimentals]

I think one of the facets about mobile computing that is still overlooked but will play a major part in peoples selection on buying or upgrading to other devices.

Its application portfolio's and I am not talking about what store has to most apps, rather what apps the person has already bought. In both iPhone and Android markets people are starting to build up investments in applications as they tend to be available for the life of the market. The more you have on a platform the harder it will be to swap to another. If a customer bought R1000's of applications on say iOS or Android switching to the other would mean that you just wasted that money and will have to start afresh building up a new portfolio of applications.

This is where the problem comes in with Microsoft's late entrance to the market, as many users already started building up investments in other markets. Sure WP7 might be a great product but it has more than just speed and snappy UI or functionality to deal with. In other words the longer it takes to get into the market the harder it is going to be to fight the others for market share.

 

[BeVonk!]

I'm one of those with a large portfolio of iOS apps (iPhone and iPad) and migrating to any other OS would mean abondoning the portfolio ... which is not going to happen without a very very good reason. Android or MS will have to come with something truly amazing to make me abandon what I've already invested in iOS. For this reason I'm not nearly as pesimistic about iOS's future as the study tries to show. RIM might become the big loser, but I seriously doubt it will be Apple.

 

[BeVonk!]

And then there are all the iPhone accessories that I've invested in, one being an expensive Yamaha sound system with iPhone dock. Most iOS owners have accessories that they may not want to abandon.

 

[Elimentals]

And then there are all the iPhone accessories that I've invested in, one being an expensive Yamaha sound system with iPhone dock. Most iOS owners have accessories that they may not want to abandon.

Exactly.... the longer it takes to more you get invested into your current platform, its not like the old Nokia days anymore.

I just did a rough calculation, I have about R2400 worth of software on my Android platform, this includes game's office and utils.

 

[BeVonk!]

I'm currently reading "Search & Destroy" by Scott Cleland. This book drives a few nails through any chances of me ever getting an Android device.

 

[diabolus]

The fact that the article does not mention ONCE anything about "development" and "apps" means it's flawed. Android and iOs are not exploding because of the phones they are on, it's because of the SOFTWARE you get with it.

If there are no apps on WP7, then it's dead. They can put it on some super Nokia phone with the best hardware ever, if no one is developing for the platform...sorry it is dead.

So unless i see Microsoft opening up their platform and supporting their platform to such an extend that people WANT to develop for it, then i don't see WP7 making a dent anytime soon. Skype means squat in all this, there are apps that will soon bypass Skype anyway. Xbox Live means even less, it's a closed platform with ZERO development going into it, you can't even freaking browse the internet on the Xbox platform, and they want people to buy a phone that supposedly integrates with it? Riiiight.

Compare this to what Apple did with their platforms, everything from ipod, to iphone to ipad to itunes to mac is integrated and growing vs. Microsoft's locked off little islands of platforms.

I've had a Zune for a few years now, reason i bought it was the whole thing how it would integrate so well with Xbox + Windows Mobile + Windows and all that [Microsoft platforms and all] . Blah it was [and still is] pretty poor and an ipod got better integration with Windows than Microsoft's own product (because people actually develop for it) .