Analysts: Windows Phone is BlackBerry's potential killer

Blackberry Bold 9900

Windows Phone to accept BlackBerry?

Windows Phone has been called as BlackBerry's last nail in its coffin, past Ovum annotator Nick Dillon. Due to the reportedly increased levels of security and platform integration, Dillon expects Microsoft to succeed in the business and enterprise market, where RIM has held much of the space.

While we remain unaware of exactly what to expect in the next version of Windows Phone 8, Microsoft has given the greenish light on pre-orders to exist fabricated bachelor for both partner hardware and software copies of Windows 8. Ovum forecasts Microsoft's mobile platform will increase its marketshare from under five per-cent in the UK to 13 per-cent within five years.

This bound in market place share is believed to exist when Windows Phone takes BlackBerry in forcefulness and leaves information technology behind in a gust of smoke. Of grade, nosotros should remember previous predictions by analysts for Windows Phone to surpass Android by 2022. While the year has yet to come around, and we've yet to see what impact (if any) Windows 8 will make, it's becoming increasingly likely we'll continue to see a tedious growth for the platform.

Dillon went into explain how the integration between products will aid Microsoft take Windows Phone college:

"With the greater links to its Xbox and PC platforms they actually will be hoping the stars have aligned this time and people tin see how they can all piece of work together. However, the problem is people are used to Android and iOS and this looks very unlike. Retail sales likewise require staff to exist trained and actually understand the benefits of Windows Phone, and this is a lot of hard work."

Consumers take witnessed the power behind staff who only have no idea about an entire eco-system. We've had numerous reports of retailer and / or carrier staff merely not understanding features and functionality of Windows Phone, who and so recommend Android and iOS hardware instead. Dillon connected:

"This [production integration], along with the security upgrade is ane of the reasons businesses could be the key market for Windows Phone. Washed properly with the right marketing, Windows could be a BlackBerry killer in enterprise."

Business and enterprise is certainly an bending Microsoft tin can attack from, and we'd look the company to do so with its Office software being refreshed and updated, which is fully supported by Windows Phone (and Windows 8).

HTC 8X

CCS Insight analyst Geo Blaber agrees with Dillon that business may well be the way forward for Windows Phone, due to Microsoft being a familiar make in enterprise and small business network. Should the company utilises its reputation within the market, information technology could hands bear witness off PC and smartphone integration as a seamless feel.

Blaber goes onto note that Microsoft has a battle with consumers, and how the platform isn't as tried and tested equally the contest:

"Microsoft will feel the same problem they had last yr. It receives good reviews from people who have actually tried information technology, but because it looks and so different to other platforms people are now familiar with, it's hard to become people on board. They really need the carriers to back up them in a bigger and more sustained way."

Which has e'er been the case, and has been the master consequence in gaining early adopters when Windows Telephone 7 was launched dorsum in 2022. Operators are to play an important role in how effective Windows Phone 8 will be in taking share in both consumer and business markets. We've seen positive signs and so far with many carriers taking a number of handsets (O2 U.k. solitary has taken on the HTC 8S, 8X and Samsung ATIV S).

"Terminal time we had the fireworks and big push at launch but then the interest seemed to fade when the demand from the public didn't follow. The operators practice desire a 3rd choice just information technology'south catch 22 for them, it'due south a big risk to go big on an operating system which is unproven and may not have the demand there in the first place."

This is the major concern. While at that place'due south a desire for a third platform, is there enough need for such a force to exist ranked every bit a viable third to Android and Apple tree's iOS? Only time will tell, and nosotros believe Windows Phone has the best chance if BlackBerry 10 fails to have off. Should that happen, so we tin can only hope momentum continues to increase.

Source: Mobile News, via: WMPU