Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has kept quiet on the number of Windows Phone 7 devices it has sold, but not for the reasons many thought (i.e. a poor showing). Turns out the company has put more than 1.5 million phones on the shelves in the first six weeks since launch, it revealed today.
Achim Berg, Microsoft's corporate vice president of the mobile communications business and marketing group, announced the stat today in a "feature story" posted on Microsoft's site, dispelling estimates that put sales in the low hundreds of thousands.
Since the launch in October, Microsoft has introduced 10 WP7 devices from several different handset makers, including LG Electronics Inc. (London: LGLD; Korea: 6657.KS) and Samsung Corp. , it appears to be a serious contender in 2011. (See OS Watch: Samsung, King of Androids.)
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For more on Microsoft's operating system overhaul with WP7, check out the following stories:
Completely agree. What's my impetus to buy a WP7 phone if I can't easily port over the apps I've paid for on another phone/OS? Unless you are upgrading to a smartphone for the first time ot the phone is offering something really revolutionary, I can't see switching platforms.
I wonder if MS can find a way to seamlessly integrate desktop/cloud Office Apps into WP7? Seems like that could be a strategic way in to the enterprise market.
I've seen one in use. They are actually really nice.
These data phones have become like PCs, however. A fundamental reason that people buy PCs or Macs is that most of the software that they want to use will run on these, and only these, machines. It becomes a feedback loop. Developers develop for the Mac and the PC because that is where the customers are.
It is getting like that with phones. I'm starting to see ads for companies that include the statement 'download our Android or iPhone app'. People considering buying a phone will see these and it becomes pretty obvious that any other phone OS leaves you out of the party.
The question is if Microsoft/Nokia/HP-Palm can become one of the defacto-ports for the developers.
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