The Nokia Microsoft gamble is starting to pay off globally
There have been a lot of negative comments about the Microsoft Nokia alliance and that the struggling Nokia would not be the salvation needed to lift the struggling OS. Microsoft, even with there impressive operating system called Windows Phone, has yet to partner well with device OEMS or put together an effective marketing campaign. Granted, Ben the PC Guy has gotten a lot of attention with the “Smoked by a Windows Phone” contests he has been running all over the world. I’m not saying it hasn’t been effective, who could argue with his 95% success rate right? But it does not hit a global audience or compare the Android Marketing juggernaut.
But Microsoft has pledged money for advertising something like millions instead of what seems more like hundreds of dollars so far. And Nokia has even started a series of advertisements to promote the product. But with a only a couple of handsets launched in the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710, Nokia has put together some impressive numbers in the fourth quarter of 2011 to take the number one Windows Phone supplier in the world. What is really interesting is how long of a head start HTC and Samsung had before the launch of the Nokia handsets and how Nokia has sold over 900,000 devices to take a 33% share of all Windows Phone devices sold. The result is a nice little 36% increase globally for Microsoft and a overall smartphone market share of 2.7%.
So I know what you’re thinking. Yeah, this is small potatoes but it could easily be called a single for the two companies which will allow them to send their cleanup hitter to the plate. That cleanup hitter is number 900 and I think the Lumia 900 will have a pretty big bat to swing for team Microsoft. I am not saying it will be out of the park, but I do expect a significant increase in market share when it gets launched in March. And even with it’s big boy specs like a Carl Zeiss camera and 4.3 inch screen, the Lumia 900 will be priced right on AT&T for $100.
So with the global strategy showing signs of success, Microsoft has got to be breathing easier as they wait for their cleanup hitter, the Nokia Lumia 900 to step up and take a swing for the fence.
[source: BGR]
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I think the analysts had Nokia to sell 37m WPs in 2012…they’re going to need a rapid rate of increase asap. I think a lot of this still lies in the hands of WIndows 8 and WP8 though. That starts a marketing and thinking shift.
Like what I said over and over again…msft is here and its here to stay, the iPhone 5 is not the cool thing anymore,we all know what the operating system will look like,all the hyped is about the hardware..nokia is new cool thing with windowsphone is,once windows 8 tablet shows up with tue laptop and desktop people will soon realize who is cool…a lot of positive bloggers predicted by 2015 windowsphone will have no.2 spot in the USA,not considering how well windowsphone is selling worldwide,,as an early adopter I must admit it was a frustrating but yet exciting period owning tye hd7 mango and now the 2nd Gen lumia 710..
I don’t see my self buying another hardware except Nokia..
Samsung HTC LG Dell Acer u all have to step up and recognize wp7 and 8..but I think Nokia alone will do a better job combine those mentioned
@David – I also think that alot of it involves having a full year to move units and the snowball effect of the brand getting hot again. Whats good about Nokia in addition to them marketing exceptionally well is that they have a plan to roll out new models repeatedly.
I also think the Lumia 900 gets a huge boost in sales for the simple fact that the iPhone 5 supposedly is slated for a fall release. That means Nokia should have 6 months to gain as many sales as possible. Combine that with the fact there is a very good chance Nokia unveils their latest flagship product when Windows 8 arrives in time for the holidays and that will go head up with the iPhone 5 which should bring dual core and hi-res screens to the table.
The arrival of Windows 8 and metro on Xbox combined with exciting new phones should provide a big boost.
Nokia’s promotional push is changing attitudes toward WP7. They’re going from indifference to interest to actual purchases. They have a steep hill ahead of them but I don’t see either Apple nor Android doing anything remotely that creative. I gave my kids a Nokia Lumia 710 each, in exchange for their iPhone and they’re very happy with the much improved performance and overall handling. There is NOTHING wrong with WP7. I own a Samsung Focus and can’t wait to get my hands on the Lumia 900.
The biggest hurdle is still at retail.
I stroll into wireless stores when I am out, and with just one exception NONE of the people working there have a clue. They are mindless in their funnel-vision, directing people to iPhones and Androids.
Yes, I said Mindless.
People like Simmons make very rational and reasoned arguments about why they prefer Android. The mouth-breathers in the stores can’t tell you one reason at all that you wouldn’t want a Windows Phone — and they can’t explain a single cogent point in favor of the others. “You just want this” is all they can say. Or, “the specs on this are better.”
It’s sad when the scales are being unfairly tipped by the least-educated sales force in technology history. Here’s hoping that the point-of-sale incentives will speak a language the mouth-breathers will understand.
I think the term “knuckle draggers” is more appropriate.
Just wait for Nokia Lumia 610 to hit developing nations.