Making The Case For Windows Phone in 2013
We’re now firmly in year three of Microsoft’s mobile platform reboot. We’ve progressed from the initial release, got a reprieve with NoDo, thoroughly enjoy Mango (WP7.5) and have been recently introduced to Apollo (WP8). Unless you’ve been living underneath a rock you should know by now that Windows Phone has not taken the market by storm as Ballmer and a few overly generous forecasters predicted. Read along as I take the opportunity to make a case for Windows Phone gaining significant market share in 2013.
Partner to Prosperity
AT&T has been the premiere launch partner for Windows Phone since its 2010 debut. T-Mobile also offered Windows Phone in the fall of 2010 and actually saw decent adoption rates even though they carried mid-tier hardware choices. Verizon offered a token measure of support by introducing the HTC Trophy in the summer of 2011 and Sprint released the HTC Arrive to dismal results and zero push. The two carriers who actually pushed the Windows Phone as a credible choice for their subscribers (AT&T, T-Mobile) continued to support the platform through the fall 2011 launch of the WP7.5 devices. Verizon and Sprint backed off and there wasn’t another offering from either carrier as they took a wait and see approach to the platform.
Fast forward to now and we see that Verizon has jumped in with both feet support Windows Phone. Running national TV ads, offering multiple attractive models and different price points too. They have even released a red Nokia Lumia 822 for Valentines Day. Sprint has also gone on record to announce their commitment to bring attractive Windows Phone 8 devices to their subscribers this summer. Sprint has also gone so far as to reassure subscribers that they won’t be offering six month old hardware which suggests a commitment to delivering a device that is timely and appealing.
The bigger your goals and vision the more help you need to get it met. Not having the 2nd and 3rd largest mobile carriers not supporting your platform means that you’re left with over 50% of the market that will not be buying a device running your platform. Finally in 2013 there should be appealing devices on all four major carriers. Windows Phone is between 2% and 3% right now. If we simply just doubled that number due to the support of both Verizon and Sprint that is 5% right there.
Also of note is that Microsoft is making a push for smaller carriers like MetroPCS, Boost, etc. to carry low cost handsets. This is huge as I know a ton of people who simply are reluctantly using a smartphone and buy low-cost pre-paid devices for $200 or less because they don’t want a contract. This is an area where HTC, Nokia and Samsung could exploit.
Appealing Hardware
Almost universally it is agreed that the initial Windows Phone 8 device line-up is impressive. You have flagship devices that hold their own against any other phone and you have attractive options no matter what price fits your budget on multiple carriers. The Nokia Lumia 920 & HTC 8X are remarkable devices that each have their own strengths. What is promising is that they both pushed the envelop and didn’t hold back on the tech. Wireless charging, NFC, great cameras, additional amplifiers for music showed that these companies wanted to deliver big.
We’re already hearing rumors of follow up devices that have forums and enthusiasts excited. You can put lipstick on a pig for so long but now Windows Phone is trotting out some real beauties. More OEM partners are introducing devices worldwide and the rivalry that’s brewing between HTC and Nokia promises to keep each OEM bringing up to date and awesome technology. The ability to offer great hardware and great pricing will help keep momentum building for the platform.
Maturing Software
Go back and look at the first couple versions of the iPhone software and compare it to the software running the iPhone 3Gs or later. If you’re a fan of Android compare pre-Gingerbread to the wonder that is Jelly Bean. The fact is that as a mobile platform matures your user experience is heightened. Windows Phone 8 feels a lot like a 1.0 release. It has built on the principles established in WP7 & WP7.5 but the switch to the NT kernel has not been without its headaches. The confusing state of Xbox Music, the marketplace, apps not being updated properly, features being inexplicably removed from WP7.5 that users loved and appreciated. Microsoft has some correcting and updating to do. Thankfully everything I’ve been hearing has shown me the Windows Phone is hard at work on correcting some of these shortcomings.
As much as BlackBerry likes to hammer the “flow” paradigm it is in fact Windows Phone that carries with it the best ability for you to interact with relevant apps without having to go in and out to the app list. For example, if I’m using viewing pictures I can easily go to the share menu and choose Apps… to quickly edit or play in my installed photography apps like Fhotoroom and Pictures Lab.
Similar to the massive jump in quality developers made with their apps for WP7.5 compared to WP7 I think that as the APIs mature and developers become more familiar with the coding landscape the app experience will be outstanding. Apps are being updated daily by developers to continuously improve the user experience. Microsoft knows they have work to do with their first party app offerings. Skype, Xbox Music, Xbox Gaming all need to be improved and I would hope that they are. Finally, many users are clamoring for a notifications center and I think it is on the way. It makes so much sense to do it in a multitude of ways and the Windows Phone team did reveal they wanted to do one but ran out of time for the WP8 launch. That means at the very least it will be there by this fall though we all hope it comes sooner.
Lastly I need to mention the importance of a proper sync client for the desktop. We were hoping for something like Zune with just a rebranded and a few features added instead we got a barebones, inadequate offering that has frustrated users. This needs to be on the fast track to being updated.
Better Marketing
I’ll get straight to the point. Crappy marketing can make even a great car look like trash and be treated like a plague. Early Windows Phone commercials missed the boat by trying to be too smart for their own good. Your marketing efforts should bring attention to the product and show relevancy to someone’s life. The launch of Windows Phone 8 brought with it a slew of adverts that hit the mark and show the real life benefits and fun that users can expect from a Windows Phone. The adverts aren’t about apps but about how we use our phones to get through the day. As long as Microsoft continues to hammer home this point throughout 2013 much like Samsung has done with their “Next Big Thing” series of adverts good things will continue to be in store for the platform.
So there you have it folks. My case for Windows Phone growing their market share in 2013. Is this finally the year that Windows Phones stop being the tech version of pink unicorns? I’m betting heavily that it is with the obvious caveat that Microsoft can’t make a single mistake going forward.
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I know I’m a broken record with this but as long as it’s called Windows the stream up which it has to paddle has a steeper incline than if it were called, for a random example, the Xphone. Don’t you agree? “Surface” isn’t that fantastic either, nor do the two letters RT paired up.
I’d agree that Windows Phones will be in the hands of many more people by the end of the year, and stay in those hands, I’d agree that it will be a close race against Blackberry, but I have to agree with my man Eric Schmidt that there is room for only two, Apple and Google, in this market as double digit contenders.
I actually think you are right that there will be essentially a duopoly in the double digit club. Those two will be Apple and Android. Last week I took a break from electronics and caught up on some reading. I re-read a book called the 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing and indeed the mobile market is reflective of the law of duopoly. Aside from Apple and Android everyone else will be bit players that won’t come close to challenging the two behemoths.
So although I expect a significant market share increase for Windows Phone I am not predicting 25% if the market. Of course in the growing mobile market getting to 10% is quite lucrative and worth billions yearly.
Nice article.
I’d love WP to get a 10% share. It’d be great to happen. But if they don’t get off their collective duffs and market this sucker, it’s not happening. But we’ve all gripped about that by now. After two and a half years, I think I’d be surprised if it happened.
And syncing – ugh. I haven’t connected my 920 to my laptop in weeks because it’s so lame.
I’m sure I’ll catch hell for this, but the constant doubt and nay-saying about Windows Phones sounds almost exactly the same as the negative talk about the XBox. It couldn’t compete with Sony, let alone Nintendo. It couldn’t sell in Japan, nor outside of the US for that matter.
Low ‘n behold what happened?
Yes I know the mobile market is a little different in that it’s main consumer base operates off of sheer ignorance more than anything else. But just keep what I’m saying in mind if/when you want to speak about how bad they are doing. Also don’t forget they aren’t new to this market at all. It was called Windows Phone 7 for a reason… and not because 7 is their lucky number.
Like it or not they know how to succeed when they’re serious about a product.
But at the same time I can’t help but wonder why MS is held to the fire for not having a “perfect” device when it seems like people are either apologetic to other OS’s huge, glaring issues, or they flat out make excuses for their favorite devices short comings… ala iphone users.
PS
For what it’s worth I’ve always been more of a Playstation fan myself.
Just sayin’.
The Xbox didn’t try to teach anybody a new way to play games. Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10 both causes the user to rethink how they do things which human beings naturally fight against.
Like I said in the article. I think the current form of marketing is spot on and effective. Now would be a great time for Microsoft to prioritize getting the apps people want on the platform. Whether we like it or not its stopping people from converting.
Also of note is the buy-in factor that heavily skews the chances of people staying with Android and iOS. Once someone spends a certain amount of money in any particular platform the chances of getting them to switch drops significantly.
That is why Microsoft needs to employ the exclusive model and bring the best games to the platform even if they have to create them themselves. Then make sure all the users on the platform buys the app/game.
Each year WP gets better but it’s always still not where it needs to be. The marketing isn’t there yet. The Xbox integration isn’t there yet. The OS maturity isn’t there yet. It always moves the needle but it hasn’t quite gotten to where it was supposed to. The carrier availability isn’t there yet with exclusives and most carriers saying they will eventually get a device (just like WP7.0) Hell I still can’t get a damn cyan 920 and I wanted one:)
Bottom line is that MS still has a ways to go if they really want to be in the same ring as iOS and Android
great piece….that target of 2015 when MS will outnumber ios is looking more and more realistic.
I’m betting they grow their marketshare significantly in China with low-cost devices.
The Lumia 920 may just be the top device on the market in terms of perfect match of hardware and firmware, and more and more people are realizing that WP8 is a viable competitor in the mobile market.