Microsoft Attempts to Introduce a Windows Smartphone
Microsoft is to introduce this Monday a new Windows equipped cell phone line, attempting to reduce Apple iPhone and Google’s Android system share of Smartphone market.
The titanic software company expects new phones by Samsung, LG and HTC will give a new twist to mobile communications.
The mobile device prototype has already been revealed, it has a touch screen, e-mail access, music and other applications; its design is similar to an iPhone and will be available for AT&T users.
Experts believe this is Microsoft’s last shot at getting a slice of the Smartphone market pizza that competitor brands have been having over the past two years.
According to the investigation company Gartner, Microsoft has only 5% in the Smartphone global share of market, it had 9% a year ago. Google’s Android has already reached 17%, two years ago it only represented 2% in the market.
Ultimate generation phone industry is expanding massively, Gartner estimates 270 million Smartphones will be sold around the world this year, this means the market has increased 56% more than last year. Computers increased 19% in sales this year (368 million devices).
Microsoft is trying to establish a balance between telephony and mobile computing. The price of their shares in stock market has decreased 20% during this year.
The software company introduced a teenage-targeted cell phone this year, named Kin, but it was retired from the shelves within 3 months after its release. Microsoft hasn’t given any kind of hint about the creation of a Windows tablet pc to battle with Apple iPad, which has had a great success in sales.
Microsoft’s new line has to work hard in order to compete with rivals. Research in Motion introduced in August the BlackBerry Torch, which has a touch screen and a folding QWERTY keyboard and costs $200.
Apple iPhone 4 arrived to the stores in June; it costs between 200 and 300 dollars.
A significant amount customers have become fans of Android phones with similar prices.
Experts affirm Symbian (Nokia) and Android (Google) operative systems will lead the market.
According to Gartner, Symbian is the leader at the moment, it reached 41% during the second trimester of the current year, SIM is next in line with 18%, Android with 17%, Apple with 14% and Microsoft with 5%.
Gartner added Smartphone sales will be tripled on 2014 (875 million devices), Nokia and Android will lead the market, representing for 30% each, Apple will have 15%, RIM 12% while Microsoft will only have 4% of the market.