Since 1996, Microsoft has been writing operating systems for little computers to carry in your pocket. It was a lonely business until the company’s perennial rival, Apple, introduced the Web-browsing, music-playing iPhone. But now that smartphones are popular, Microsoft’s operating system, Windows Mobile, is foundering.
More cellphone makers are turning to the free Android operating system made by Microsoft’s latest nemesis, Google.
Cellphone makers that have used Windows Mobile to run their top-of-the-line smartphones — including Samsung, LG, Kyocera, Sony Ericsson — are now also making Android devices. Twelve Android handsets have been announced this year, with dozens more expected next year. Motorola has dropped Windows Mobile from its line entirely in a switch to Android. HTC, a major cellphone maker, expects half its phones sold this year to run Android. Dell is using Android for its entry into the cellphone market.
So long MS Mobile.
If Windows Mobile was free, I wonder how that would have changed matters?
So long MS Mobile.
That about nails it.
Remember what happened to IE’s market share? I am sure Microsoft can see the iceberg … they just can’t seem to figure out how to steer the ship.
Lee Williams from Symbian has no love for Google or Android.
If Windows Mobile was free, it would still be a horrible operating system. Having to pay for it is just an extra kick in the face.
Sorry but I don’t think any smart phone is as popular as it appears. But I do think the more phones and Cellular services using a particular OS is going to affect the market and in the end affect the iPhone sales. One problem here in the US for Apple and its iPhone is that it has not opened up the iPhone to other carriers soon enough. If it did, it might have drowned out any Android that came along. Even though I am no hater of Windows Mobile. I do agree that its just never got enough attention from Microsoft to keep it current. Its too late now.
Embrace and Extend: Microsoft should come out with a Windows Mobile “runtime” for Android, which lets developers run their Mobile apps on Android.
I’m one of those people that uses Windows Mobile and I’m happy with it. It does everything I need it to just fine. I think Internet Sharing alone is worth it. iPhone users can have all the “apps” that look like cigarette lighters or a glass of beer. I’d trade all the iPhone “apps” for Internet Sharing.
“It was a lonely business until Apple introduced the iPhone.”
What clueless nitwit wrote that crap? David Pogue?
No, I didn’t RTFA. I’m not going to.
R.I.P. Windows 7 Mobile
That’s what you get for being too cocky + complaisant. They should replace Ballmer with someone more in touch with what’s going on in the company.
who would use anything but a nokia anyway? fools.
For reference, a Windows Mobile license costs about $15 a unit.
http://tinyurl.com/yljp63p
Android needs to be custom made for each handset. Developers are having to compile different versions of Android applications for each manufacturer and model. It’s all turning very bad, very quickly.
i love how google doesn’t open source their software, their real software that pays the bills, but open sources their competitors… and still keeps the tag ” oh we are such a great company because we give back to the community…” ya right. i guess in some ways they do but they are as full of shit as the rest… they are going to be a bigger problem down the road than microsoft ever thought of being in the pdiddy pc days… mark my words……….
@faustus
open sources their competitors
What the hell does that mean? Are you so angry at Google that you can’t type strait?
@Improbus, it’s not just you. He completely lost me as well.
For me, the big issue with smart phones going into the future is applications. Changing the OS is one thing, and not an unimportant thing, but getting developers on board like Apple have done is no mean feat and so far the iPhone is the only platform with massive developer support. Will Google be able to get the devs on board in a way that rivals Apple?
Microsoft have clearly lost the plot with WinMob and I would be surprised if the damage isn’t terminal.
@sargasso, que pasa? Why do developers need to compile a different version of their application for each handset (unless they do the native thing, which is rare)? As for screen differences, it’s straightforward to make them resolution-independent.
I’ve written apps that run HTC, Samsung, and Motorola handsets without any changes. Am I missing something?
@honeyman, my observations (purely anecdotal) are that the developers view handset support this way:
1. iPhone
2. Android
3. Blackberry (Oh God, only if I have to)
4. Who cares?
The webOS from Palm has generated some interest, but I don’t know anyone who supports it yet. Symbian (pick your flavor), WinMo, LinMo, and others just aren’t worth the trouble.
Since Windows 7 is almost a big hit for Microsoft. Windows Mobile 7 is just around the corner and Microsoft is looking for another lucky number 7 here. Keeping fingers crossed.
As for Android, never seen it take off as much as Google had anticipated. It still seems like a naked Mobile OS with lack of application and horrible hardware. Needs a little more exciting hardware and software to make it a hit as just giving it away for free is not enough. Learn from Linux, as they have boasted FREE FREE all their lives but a normal user still never buys into their FREE crap.
google supports open source projects like operating systems, but only if it suits what they are doing of course… browsers, online applications… all good… but they’re projects that target their competitors… open source the search engine… adsense… then i will say they support “open source”. the devil you know is sometimes better than the devil you don’t.
#15 & #20
One of the great things about Android is that “compiled” apps will work on any Android enabled hardware. The manufacturers have to do the work of getting Android running on their device, but after that, any Android app should work fine. That’s the beauty of managed code.
What’s not to like about Android? It’s free, it’s open, and it’s evolving quickly. Some people worry about the platform fracturing, but I’m not sure it will ever actually become a problem.
Just have to wait and see what will happen in 2010. I for one, am quite sanguine.
SKL
#11 Even Ballmar agrees they got fat and lazy and now they are playing catchup slowly.
From my view Rim is the one to beat.
I just want a nice little computer with a key board that fits in my pocket, can make calls, take pictures/video, play music and videos, run office files, do email, and has built in gps.
Is that to much to ask? Not the way things are going.
The only reason RIM is doing well now is there is a big demand for smartphone and unless you are on ATT, the BB looks attractive. This will end when consumers see that Android does far more then BB ever will.
RIM is doing well because:
1) They conquered the corporate territory with excellent security and level of control that sys admins have with their BES solution.
2) Their email solution still is second to none. Some people, like Leo Laporte, jump on fads at the drop of a hat and go around saying that “email is dead.” But many other people realize that it is very far from dead. E-mail is the largest and most useful social network there’s ever been. EVERYONE is in it. There is actually very little that other phones can do that the Blackberry can’t, and most of it doesn’t matter. RIM specialized in things that matter: email, security and IT dept empowerment.
It’s just a matter of catering. Many people want serious. Many people want Mickey Mouse. RIM picked the serious. Apple picked the Mickey Mouse.
Where RIM doesn’t do very is with their web browser. For us at least that matters a lot. It took very few tweaks to get our ajax empowered web app to work well on an iPhone. Blackberry? It would require a separate development effort.
Oh, and this is a serious business app. Not some Mickey Mouse thing.