Well, here’s a slap in the face for fans of Microsoft’s nascent mobile line: it sells less units per quarter than Samsung’s Bada platform, according to Gartner.
What’s that? You’ve never heard of Bada? That’s the point, friend, it’s essentially invisible from a technology standpoint, while Windows Phone is front and center. The media attention that Windows Phone receives, from this blog included, is, I would presume an order of magnitude greater than what Bada receives.
Here are the figures, courtesy of Gartner:
That shouted word you just heard was ‘bazinga.’ By several hundred thousand units, Bada beat Windows Phone in global shipments, despite Nokia’s new handsets basking in a pool of warm media love. Ask yourself this question: what was the last time you read a story on a Bada handset?
Right. That was what I thought. What does this mean? It implies that while Microsoft is making progress with its Windows Phone line of phones, it is miles away from being what one could call a ‘major player.’ That may change in time, but Windows Phone remains minor. Steve Ballmer said it best: “In a year, we’ve gone from very small to … very small.” To employ the Internet vernacular, ‘trufax.’
The future is in the mobile world. That is to say Smartphones and Tablets. With that being said, it makes me happy that Microsoft's days are numbered.
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LikeFEWER units
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LikeI don't think anyone is claiming otherwise... Windows Phone is still dwarfed by Android and iOS, truth be told, though, it represents right now the only real alternative to the iOS/Android design choices that are pretty much similar. I've played around with a WP phone and I was amazed at how beautiful and polished it looks and how intuitive it is. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.
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Likemattdamdin "Windows Phone ... represents right now the only real alternative to the iOS/Android design choices that are pretty much similar." That defies logic. It would seem to me that Bada would make a better "3rd choice" since people are choosing that over the WinPhone in spite of its massive promotion. Who do you see as number one? Android/Google, of course - the very company/phones that Microsoft is constantly attacking viciously. This is a big mistake, as the people who buy into Android/Google might be more than a little upset with these attacks. It is not going to make them want to switch to the WinPhone - that's for sure. Far more likely they would switch to something like Bada if given a little encouragement. Don't you think?
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LikeNot really. This article lacks the proper context in which to place Bada's 'success'.
Bada is mainly sold in 'emerging markets and the Asia-Pacific region' (ref: http://www.computerworlduk.com/in-depth/mobile-wireless/3296745/why-windows-phones-are-so-hugely-unpopular/ ), as well as non-English speaking European countries, where it is a lot more popular, relatively speaking (their marketshare in France and Germany in the quarter ending 11 April 2011 was 8.8% and 7.3%, respectively [ref: http://www.cellular-news.com/story/49186.php ]). The reason for this popularity is most likely because Samsung heavily subsidises Bada phones, meaning that they are often cheaper than other phones.
The reason why *you* have never heard of Bada (outside of these marketshare articles) is because they are either not sold or not very well advertised (though most often the former) in the major English speaking markets (e.g. Canada, US, UK, Australasia). Thus, using Windows Phone’s lack of success in the worldwide market is a poor indicator of how they will do in those Anglo-centric markets.
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LikeGah, I meant 'Thus, using Windows Phone's lack of success *vs. Bada* in the worldwide market...'
Where's the Edit button when you need it?
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Likemarkkb "The reason for this popularity is most likely because Samsung heavily subsidises Bada phones, meaning that they are often cheaper than other phones."
I do believe the same applies for Windows Phone 7's success ;)
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LikeThe trend for Bada is down however, and up for Windows Phone.
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Likewmpoweruser I think you're reading the table in reverse. 4Q2011 is on the left, 4Q2010 is on the right.
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LikeAlex Murphywmpoweruser Regardless, Windows Phone will win. Microsoft has the resources to get it done.
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LikeRichard Trammell Alex Murphy wmpoweruser
Somehow I doubt it. Microsoft has thrown literally billions of dollars at WinPhone, and look where they are.
(There initial sales campaign at launch was $500million; followed up by the $1 Billion deal with Nokia. So that's at least $1.5 Billion already spent that we know of; and they've likely spent a lot more than that as follow on marketing.)
Microsoft has never known how to do mobile environments. They never _wanted_ to as it would cannibalize their main desktop platform. WIn8 shows they are now willing to try to make that transition, but it's probably too little too late.
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LikeAlex Murphy Its not the table I am referring to. Its usage data like statcounter.
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LikeAlex Murphy See here http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8&qpcustomd=1 Notice the number and the trend.
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