Windows Mobile 7: Too late
Last week’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona was all but dominated by talk of Google’s Android operating system. But admist the Android clamour was a much-anticipated announcement from Microsoft regarding its Windows Mobile 7 operating system. So it wasn’t a surprise when Steve Ballmer himself showed up at the mobile world’s largest get-together to talk about the much-delayed mobile phone OS.
A phone OS that draws its inspiration for its interface from the Zune media player and ties into the Xbox network seemed a perfect product to announce. Those lucky enough to be there all but sang its praises. Even hardened anti-Windows Mobile journalists said that this could be the phone OS that made them change their minds. All in all it was a successful show for Microsoft.
The big question is, however, whether Windows Mobile 7 series hasn’t come a little too late in the day for Microsoft. Right now there are just pictures and descriptions of WinMo 7, no actual product. That is being slated for release in the second half of 2010, although no specific date has been set as yet and Windows Mobile 7 is already well behind its original release date.
Windows Mobile’s history of playing catch-up goes back to the start of 2007 when the first iPhone was released by Apple in January of that year. Windows Mobile 6 was released a month later and was a largely underwhelming product in the wake of the iPhone hype. Apple changed the game with the iPhone in 2007 and Microsoft appeared to not even notice.
Now in 2010 the same is happening. Apple’s 3GS is out, Android is well into version 2.x and Symbian, the world’s most used OS, is now open source. Microsoft still hasn’t released Windows Mobile 7 and doesn’t look likely to do so for another six months or so. Which leaves users with Windows 6.5 and developers wondering whether it is worth continuing with Windows Mobile development or just throw their lot in with Android or the iPhone.
Six months is a long time in the mobile world. The very first Android-based phone, the H1, was released less than 18 months ago. Today it holds close to 3% market share. Windows Mobile accounts for an estimated 9% market share, a portion that has been dropping steadily over the past couple of years. At its current pace Android is likely to pass Windows Mobile in short order, further relegating Windows Mobile to the status of also-ran.
And other handset makers haven’t been sitting by idly either. Apple’s iPhone 4G is already been talked about as a possible release in the first half of this year while Symbian4 is slated for release six months after Symbian3, which itself was released this month. By the time Windows Mobile 7 is shipped to users all of these could already be on the market and Windows Mobile 7 is going to look decidedly old-school.
Microsoft’s focus around Windows Mobile 7 is also strange. Typically a player in the enterprise market where companies buy up bulk smart phones for employees, the entire hype around Windows Mobile 7 at its announcement was around consumer-orientated features; music, video, Xbox. Little mention was made of its enterprise capabilities, which is where it would seem obvious for Microsoft to focus. Ballmer was probably just playing to the crowd at the MWC so this may change over time. But, as it stands right now, there is some promise, no actual product and no fixed timeline for Windows Mobile 7 release. The exact opposite of its competitors who are steaming ahead and leaving Microsoft playing catch-up.
Windows Mobile 7 << discussion
Loading ...