Joe Belfiore, the corporate vice president of Operating Systems Group at Microsoft, has recently posted a tweet saying that the software company is no longer looking to develop new major Windows Mobile offerings or even handsets for now. Having said that, Belfiore said that the company will still be providing support for its mobile operating system, including rolling out the latest security updates and fixes for bugs.
Belfiore even went as far as tweeting that he has personally switched from a Windows Mobile powered smartphone to an Android running device because of the general lack of apps made available on the platform, and also of the very narrow range of options when it comes to Windows Mobile phones.
Microsoft may still be considered among the biggest names in software across the globe, but in the world of mobile operating systems, it can not quite compete with Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS platforms. As a matter of fact last year, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech had reported that Windows Phone’s market share had decreased to less than 5 percent in a number of mobile markets in Europe. Microsoft’s mobile OS had actually started gaining some traction in these European regions, but the last few quarters have since seen the platform begin to lose its grip. The fact of the matter is -- Windows Mobile just can’t get enough users, and those who do choose the platform sometimes feel like they are missing out on the newest and coolest features offered by Android or iOS.
To Microsoft’s credit, it did really try its best to grab the attention of consumers and even the app developers. The company even began paying app creators and software firms to develop apps for Windows Mobile, and Microsoft even tried to build the apps themselves just to get the creators on board. But in an industry where numbers rule, it made no sense for creators or companies to invest resources in building apps that only few will use.
There are other factors, of course. Even when a Windows Mobile powered handset does generate some momentum, Microsoft (or phone makers who manufacture Windows Phone devices) are often slow in taking full advantage of that momentum, not always quick in releasing a follow up or an update. And again, it is difficult to do just that when there is simply not enough demand in the first place. Still, acknowledging a losing battle is better than doing nothing, and perhaps Microsoft now can put all of its attention in its hit software products and services.
