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October 24th, 2008

Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 11:26 am

Categories: Microsoft

Tags: Microsoft Windows Mobile, Mobile, Cringely, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Handhelds, Advertising & Promotion, Software, Hardware, Marketing

Cringely’s right, unless Microsoft gets around to doing something really radical with Windows Mobile, the platform will be all but dead in a few years.

RIP Windows Mobile

So, why will Windows Mobile be dead in a few years? Like Cringely, I think that several factors are at work here:

  • Windows Mobile is an awful platform
    Not only is it an epic fail in terms on being a cut-down version of Windows, it can also be flaky and highly unreliable. I’m not saying that all WM smartphones are rubbish (some, such as Samsung’s BlackJack were actually quite decent), but the experience between vendors was very variable. I think that developing a good WM device was expensive, hence roundabout announcement that they are exiting the high-end (read WM) phone game.
  • Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile
    Hello Microsoft …. was this supposed to be a joke applications or something?
  • There are too many competing platforms
    iPhone, Android, Symbian, RIM, Windows Mobile … that a crowded market.
  • The high-end cellphone market is only so big
    85% of folks out there are more than happy with a dumb handset.
  • Only so many developers to go around
    iPhone and Android platforms are attracting a lot of developer attention. With ready-made stores, Microsoft has nothing like this to offer developers. As much as I like the Symbian platform on my new Nokia, I have to admit that iPhone and Android have some cool apps.
  • Unless you’re #1 or #2, what’s the point
    Is Microsoft really going to pour the money and commitment that Windows Mobile really needs if there’s no chance the platform can’t be at the #1 or #2 spot? I don’t think so.

Time for Windows Mobile to evolve or die … and I’m not holding my breath expecting to see any evolving.

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 126 Talkback(s)
Microsoft has less in cash...
...and tangible assets than Apple. Less than 21B vs 25B at latest count. Apple can produce an add for around 100 times less than Microsoft that is at least twice (probably a lot more but I wouldn't ... (Read the rest)
Posted by: 914four Posted on: 10/31/08 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
More evidence Adrians objectivity is gone  CrashPad | 10/24/08
My objectivity ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/24/08
Adrian has no idea anymore and his judgement is clouded  Martin_Australia | 10/24/08
Who's buying WM devices today?  T1Oracle | 10/25/08
Anyone who bought a Diamond, a Touch Pro...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
That would be about the third place  frgough | 10/25/08
In America.  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
I finally checked up on some of these phones...  storm14k | 10/26/08
I checked out...  Sleeper Service | 10/27/08
I bought a Touch Diamond!  I am Gorby | 10/27/08
??? Huh nt  USTechHead | 10/25/08
re: Who's buying WM devices today?  owner@... | 10/27/08
What is the difference between WM 6 and WM 6.1?  I am Gorby | 10/27/08
WM 6 vs 6.1 - 6.1 Works  oterrya | 10/29/08
Credit crunch, and trucking $100,000 dollars of CD's about for no reason?  fr0thy2 | 10/26/08
naw  shadfurman | 10/27/08
Apple sold 2,600,000 Macs last quarter...  914four | 10/31/08
OK Adrian, let's do this bit by bit then...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
The simple fact is...  Jeremy W | 10/25/08
Whatever.  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
Sadly, he can not. He can only relay  GuidingLight | 10/25/08
Yawn. Well it looks like the  GuidingLight | 10/25/08
Some will always throw good money after bad ...  fr0thy2 | 10/26/08
We did...  Sleeper Service | 10/26/08
Umm ,,, When You Name A Linux Distro with 180 Million Users ...  PMC-CON | 10/27/08
Not entirely true...  914four | 10/31/08
Vendors  owner@... | 10/27/08
I had...  Jeremy W | 10/25/08
So what?  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
Sure you did, Jeremy, sure you did wink  GuidingLight | 10/25/08
How can one believe someone with such bad judgement?  NonZealot | 10/25/08
Maybe he really believes he had 11 (NT)  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
no clue  owner@... | 10/27/08
Here's Why You're Wrong, Adrian - ad hominem attacks by Win Fanbois Aside  drprodny | 10/28/08
What's subjective about it?  TripleII | 10/24/08
People who know nothing have the loudest opinions  Surur | 10/24/08
Hot new product, not any new product.  TripleII | 10/24/08
Clearly a daringfireball reader  Surur | 10/24/08
Nope, Symbian will see it's market erode...  TripleII | 10/24/08
Clearly uninformed  Surur | 10/24/08
Not interested != not informed.  TripleII | 10/24/08
Still uninformed  Surur | 10/24/08
It's all spin.  TripleII | 10/24/08
Are you sure you work in the phone industry?  Surur | 10/24/08
Triple...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
Heroin is a great product because some people use it?  fr0thy2 | 10/26/08
I never found Cringely to be all that accurate  GuidingLight | 10/24/08
Actually Adrian while a little harder on MS than before is one  USTechHead | 10/25/08
#1 or #2 Spot?  steeldestroyer | 10/24/08
Yeah, but there's a difference ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/24/08
Adrian...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
Yes, but...  Jeremy W | 10/25/08
Perhaps...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
And...  Jeremy W | 10/25/08
And...  GuidingLight | 10/25/08
*Sigh*  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
@GL : "paid to comment here" - hmm, reverse psychology strategies huh?  fr0thy2 | 10/26/08
You don't think WM7 has a chance?  dunn@... | 10/27/08
You can bet it kills MS...  bjbrock | 10/24/08
Shouldn't that bother any company? (nt)  LiquidLearner | 10/24/08
Yes, under a retarded ideology, sure.  fr0thy2 | 10/26/08
You're saying it's retarded  LiquidLearner | 10/26/08
Strive to better yourselves, rather than everyone.  fr0thy2 | 10/26/08
Snapple was/is happy to be #3 happy nt  Bruizer | 10/26/08
re: You can bet it kills MS...  owner@... | 10/27/08
Microsoft has less in cash...  914four | 10/31/08
I think spread too thin already.  TripleII | 10/24/08
MS has so much money and so much confidence  T1Oracle | 10/25/08
Do a search on Windows Mobile 7  P. Douglas | 10/24/08
True but...  steeldestroyer | 10/24/08
MS should do well  P. Douglas | 10/24/08
That's not all they have to do....  JoeMama_z | 10/24/08
You can already do this  Surur | 10/24/08
Is it too late though.  TripleII | 10/24/08
In that two years the market has more than doubled  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
WM7 + Zune + HTC  jjworleyeoe | 10/24/08
This makes sense...it will be interesting. And  USTechHead | 10/25/08
Like Google and Apple, M$ is readying to release...  Jeremy W | 10/25/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  IMHOYAAAH | 10/24/08
I think you are both a little premature....  JoeMama_z | 10/24/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  tburzio | 10/24/08
What about corporate applications?  Roque Mocan | 10/24/08
Service carrier is more important than smart phone OS  hamobu | 10/24/08
Adrian, have you recently joined the Cupertino payroll?  Scrat | 10/25/08
It is fun to watch WM defenders dig their own grave  frgough | 10/25/08
It is...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
Actually  LiquidLearner | 10/26/08
well I'd love an iPhone  stevey_d | 10/25/08
Corporate America disagrees.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/25/08
yep, they use blackberrys  deaf_e_kate | 10/25/08
SMB Disagrees  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
What MS Corporate?  Bruizer | 10/26/08
wm's business model is flawed  elllroy | 10/25/08
Exchange  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
Adrian, you're better than this...  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
Corporate America will keep it on life support.  jameskatt | 10/26/08
Another useless blog from an MS basher...  transposeIT | 10/26/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  abc123a | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's wrong, Windows Mobile is not dead  brucegil@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  owner@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  davdgreat@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  dimitri.aguero@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  owner@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  horacv | 10/27/08
Windows Mobile / CE installed user base  klockheed | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  rparker009 | 10/27/08
So.... when is Apple going to get out of the PC market?  cyjeff | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  RAMChYLD | 10/27/08
RE: Wow... a hunnert replies  Olderdan | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  sysop-dr | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  steve@... | 10/27/08
Windows Mobile has a huge following!  General C# | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  razorrifh | 10/27/08
Have you ever seen Microsoft not come back ?  ragnar.moller@... | 10/27/08
stuck in the past...  Narg | 10/27/08
A "dead" OS with 2 years to go? Sloppy headline!  chas_2 | 10/27/08
Not really.  magallanes | 10/27/08
Windows Mobile Dead - Are you kidding?  geshaghi | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  vekaz@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  lcarliner@... | 10/27/08
Windows Mobile works fine for me!  markhelfant | 10/27/08
WM is dead for me  lkarnis@... | 10/27/08
WM Isn't too bad - show's not over  zd@... | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  jfreedle2@... | 10/27/08
The future is now  theastronomer | 10/27/08
RE: Cringely's right, Windows Mobile is dead  jacques14 | 10/27/08

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