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Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 looks impressive but not necessarily for the enterprise
Microsoft finally announced the successor to its aging WinMo OS, and analysts are positive about it as the newly named Windows Phone 7 appears to be a radical departure from its previous versions. But it's also evident that WinMo 7 is geared for the consumer, not the enterprise.
The pressure was on Microsoft to do something to stave off its falling marketshare. According to research from ComScore, Microsoft's share of the U.S. mobile OS market fell by 1 percent between September and December of last year to 18 percent despite the fact that the software giant introduced WinMo 6.5 to stop the erosion. Right now, there are a lot of details we don't know, as Microsoft will reveal them later, such as what tools developers will use, here is what is known:
- The OS won't be available until the end of the year;
- The OS uses Zune HD's user interface and XBox Live for gaming and adds messaging, personal information management and social networking integration;
- Real-time connectivity will be done via "tiles" and "hubs" for actions and connections, eliminating the need for multiple clicking;
- The OS includes rich integration with Bing, XBox and other Microsoft consumer properties;
- Microsoft now requires a minimum and consistent reference platform from the device vendors that use it.
According to Jack Gold, founder and principal analyst with J. Gold Associates, vendors using the WinMo platform were allowed to chose their components, building products using lower performance parts. This often created a frustrating user experience. However, the downside may be that existing WinMo phones likely won't be upgradeable.
When it comes to the enterprise, analysts are questioning what impact the new OS will have. Some enterprise improvements will come but its focus on the consumer market will likely only spur employees to bring in Windows Phone 7 devices in through the back door rather than massive purchases on behalf of corporations--especially since it is likely that Windows Phone 7 has nothing in common with previous OS versions.
"The change will not endear Microsoft to its existing base of corporate users who will have to redesign and redeploy their apps if they are to utilize this new platform," wrote Gold in a commentary. "We don't think Microsoft can count on many enterprises making such a transition/upgrade, and most organizations will likely stay with older WinMo versions (especially those using ruggedized devices, e.g., Symbol, or those with apps that can't easily be ported). Traditional WinMo corporate device suppliers (e.g. HP, HTC) will likely find other platforms/OSes attractive, and enterprise users should start evaluating end of life strategies for existing WinMo devices."
But appealing to the consumer market may be the only way Microsoft can propel itself into the same league as iPhone and Android-based devices. It had to do something dramatic to combat what has been taking away its marketshare in the first place. It appears there had to be a trade off.
Still, it's a long way until the end of the year. iPhone has more versions up its sleeve, while a slew of Android devices will be released this year. Meanwhile, Research In Motion, with its new browser (see story below) will be attacking the consumer side of the market quite vigorously. Microsoft's challenge is to keep the mobile community interested for another nine months or so. - Lynnette
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By Bill C | Posted 12:00pm | February 17, 2010
It is not called WinMo 7, it is Windows Phone 7. I do agree that some enterprises won't adopt it but those just needing email and calendaring will. I am about to be out of contract with AT&T and the iPhone so I will be looking closely at a Windows Phone 7 device for sure. Just because it plays music and has Facebook integration does not mean it is a consumer only device. The iPhone was/is primarily a consumer only device and it has made inroads into the enterprise and I see this eventually doing the same thing.
By lluna | Posted 12:05pm | February 17, 2010
I will make that correction. What you just said is exactly what I said in the piece. It won't come from corporate-wide sales but folks coming in the back door, just like the iPhone.--Lynnette
By Charles Wilde | Posted 12:12pm | February 17, 2010
The full name is Windows Phone 7 Series. The word Series may indicate that other versions of the product, yet to be announced, will include better support for the enterprise, including hardware keyboards, stylus, and a compatibility mode for exisisting Windows Mobile applications.
By Anonymous | Posted 1:47pm | February 17, 2010
MSFT has done a great job in bring Zune HD UI to Windows Phone. Compared to Windows Mobile 6.x, it is huge change, but I fail to see advances compared to iPhone or Android. Let's take specifics that they demoed -
1. Bing integration - Nothing new. You can get bing on iPhone today.
2. Social network integration - Motorola has its on CLIQ devices (announced in Nov, one year before MSFT - MotoBLUR) - infact MOT has everything aggregated on one screen for updates and another unified messaging inbox. In fact most of the Android 2.1 devices will have it (imagine what will happen on Android or iPhone in next 6 months).
3. Click on phone numbers and addresses launches specific apps - this has been on iphone and android devices from the very start.
4. Xbox Live - If MSFT opens the apis it will hardly take 3 months for iPhone and Android to add this (and I am sure it will come from 3rd party vendors). MSFT did not demo any games, which makes me feel it is not ready for even demos.
5. Exchange improvements - Most of the features are already on Android and iPhone. Enterprises will not only have to buy and deploy Exchange Servers, but perhaps latest office suite and sharepoint server to make it useful.
6. Shared calendar - Palm has the best implementation and I am not sure WP7 will work with companies not using Exchange Server.
7. MSFT talked about 3 screen - but I did not see in any demos (perhaps they are still working on it).
IMHO this is great first step and now MSFT has to innovate. Now question is when will the next innovation come (in years or in quarters?)
We all hope that MSFT offers a competitive and innovative solution - competition will be great for the consumers.
By Lesley Higatto | Posted 7:03pm | February 17, 2010
Microsoft has effectively put an end-of-life on all current Windows Mobile applications.
Current Windows Mobile users and developers will be forced to move to another platform, whether it be WP7S or a completely different OS.
Software vendors must make that decision very soon. In fact now. The trouble is, we cannot predict how WP7S will go in the market. It could be a flop, just like Microsoft's previous mobile and portable device efforts. It could fail, just like Zune did.
What corporation is going to stake a major commitment to WP7S, so far from release, when such uncertainty surrounds it? If there's one thing enterprise dislikes, it's uncertainty. And from Microsoft's past history, version 1 of anything is usually trouble, and subsequent version eventually get those problems ironed out.
Many will defect to the traditional business platform, BlackBerry. I can also see Android gaining much of the exudus from Windows Mobile. Some ruggedized Android devices are already appearing. Android's open nature will provide many form factors. It has already proven itself as the fastest growing platform, so we know it has that tremendous positive momentum behind it. Most analysts' predictions say that Android will soon surpass iPhone in numbers.
By winmo since 2004 | Posted 7:28pm | February 17, 2010
i think a lot of good questions and points have been raised, but microsoft look rattled and have lost all direction in my opinion.
they are going to lose their core business for windows mobile devices (corporate customers).
so they will be starting from scratch.
they should have done an 'xp' style version os
one for business customers and one geared for consumers. simple!
microsoft are trying to jump before they can walk, apple has a huge network of extra apps, itunes, games etc, very slick and very much the only reason the iphone has done so well. cos the phone itself is nice, but the spec is quite low.
ms should be concentrating on the network of apps, and the way i see it, ms did have a bigger advantage than apple as their phones did had better spec, so they had the ability to do more.
all ms needed to do was get the mobile os stable, i mean really stable and light on phone resource(power etc.) then create front ends for them to make them shiney and bling for the idiots that prefer style over substance.
unfortunately ms is going about everything like a weasing old asthmatic, that can't get up the stairs, and taking ages to produce an unstable barely usable confusing os, the reason why consumers don't come a running in the first place.
dont get me wrong i am a business user of windows mobile since 2003, i prefer windows to apple.
anyway ill let ms mess things up themselves, (even though ive just given them the answer!)
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