Windows Phone 7 gets 2% US share on launch, iPhone 4 on top
updated 02:10 pm EST, Mon January 31, 2011
NPD gives Windows Phone 7 2pc share in fall 2010
Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 had just two percent of the US market in its first quarter on sale, new NPD data uncovered. A decision to ship in mid-quarter at the height of competition between Apple and Google left it with the same fall market share as HP's webOS. The share left it with less market share than the outgoing Windows Mobile's three percent and the entire platform having dropped two percent.
Again owing partly to its timing, the OS had the lowest share of any new platform launch in recent memory. Both Android and webOS arrived with higher share.
The low turnout came even after a fairly warm critical reception and heavy discounting that included Buy One Get One deals
"Microsoft has made the case for Windows Phone 7's differentiation and improved integration," he said. "Now, the company must close the feature gap [and] offer more exclusive capabilities."
The Windows maker has repeatedly avoided discussing real sales in favor of mentioning sales to carriers, which make its demand seem larger. Many of the two million phones it shipped in the fall didn't reach subscribers.
Android now reportedly represented 53 percent of the US market, up nine points just from the summer. Apple may have been the primary victim as its share dropped four percent to 19 percent. RIM's BlackBerry also lost, however, and tied the iPhone for share.
The season also marked the first time where the top five phones in the charts were all smartphones. Apple topped the US in terms of individual phone models with the iPhone 4 remaining out in front; the iPhone 3GS was fourth. Android took advantage of sheer numbers as the remaining three devices, the Droid X, Evo 4G and Droid 2, filled out the remaining spots.
Google's position wasn't expected to stay still. The Verizon could upset the balance, Rubin said. A wave of dual-core and LTE phones unveiled at CES would help, but Motorola could no longer be comfortable. Motorola has already been warning of a slowdown in its sales owed primarily to Verizon customers waiting to get an iPhone instead.
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The market is bigger than the U.S. alone
Apple needs to reach the premium customers on Verizon's network - no doubt.
But that won't slow Android's momentum. Android is worldwide, and still has prepaid exclusively to itself. That's important because, unlike the U.S., worldwide prepaid is the majority of the market.
And the company that is the weakest, and also, the largest is Nokia - and they sell those smartphones to the prepaid market - Apple can't even take that market, they don't have a prepay phone. It's all for Google to take.
"the Verizon" lol, anyway - the importance of Verizon - is overstated, and I mean overstated constantly, for some reason. Well February 10th is almost here, so soon we can move on to the next round of excuses and explanations.
But what it comes down to, is Steve Jobs came up with the same plan he always has - with the same results he always gets.
Good results, to be sure. Market leading - lol, its a high end niche strategy - not a market leading strategy - mp3 players being the exception, and I guess the main hope why it mighta/coulda been different with smartphones.