[Opinion] What's the outlook like for MM?

[RavenSword]

I'd hate to add yet another doom thread, but what do you guys think is honestly the outlook like for Windows phone ? I m honestly really thinking if picking up one that's in the moderate price range to Olay with and keep up with because I do really like the platform. Just don't know if I can make it my daily driver.

But I'm honestly not sure where this platform is going. There still not getting the respect from app developers and I don't know how long it can keep going. Espeacily with MS new go us of making there services great everywhere. If you can get MS services as good as they are on Windows phone, then what becomes the selling point of Windows phone?

And it sucks because MS has made WP into a great OS that does some stuff better than both his or android such as the voice assistant and running well on any hardware.

So what do you think is the outlook here? Is it positive? Negative? Also, as a side question; what do you think is a good low risk way to try Windows phone? A 635? Something else?

 

[Reflexx]

It will soon just be Windows. Your tablet, phone, laptop and desktop may all be running the same core OS. So Id say the future looks bright. But there transition may also mean temporary confusion and more growing pains.

 

[RavenSword]

It will soon just be Windows. Your tablet, phone, laptop and desktop may all be running the same core OS. So Id say the future looks bright. But there transition may also mean temporary confusion and more growing pains.

If that means more and better apps, then great. I was thinking if picking up a 635, but would like something with atleasy 1gb of ram.

 

[fdalbor]

I believe the outlook is good and I have made Windows my daily driver. But I also stacking the deck by getting a midrange Android phone (Moto G lte). My desktops are Windows and my tablet is Android. We don't have to use just one OS. But when I do spring for a new Flagship phone it will be Windows. I stand behind Windows and believe in the long run it will be successful. But I don't ignore Android. Just being carefully. Apple, I have nothing against it but it's just not worth the money they want for it. It's why their market share is going down.

 

[iamtim]

I think, regardless of whether it's called Windows Phone, Windows RT, and Windows, or just straight Windows across the board, Microsoft will continue as undisputed king of the desktop. (Of course, as a quick aside, there are many people who are predicting that desktops will soon slide into near irrelevancy, but that's a different topic.) I think that because of that, and because of the good job they're doing with their Surface products, they'll gain a lot of ground in the tablet market at the expense of the numerous Android tablets out there. I think that no matter what they do, they'll never get more than 3.5% of the mobile phone market in the US; if they really push in other countries - especially countries like India and China - they will probably get a significantly higher slice of the pie outside of the US.

So, ultimately, you'll continue to see huge numbers of Windows desktops, you'll see more and more Windows tablets, but Windows phones will remain something of a rarity. At least, IMHO.

 

[RavenSword]

I think, regardless of whether it's called Windows Phone, Windows RT, and Windows, or just straight Windows across the board, Microsoft will continue as undisputed king of the desktop. (Of course, as a quick aside, there are many people who are predicting that desktops will soon slide into near irrelevancy, but that's a different topic.) I think that because of that, and because of the good job they're doing with their Surface products, they'll gain a lot of ground in the tablet market at the expense of the numerous Android tablets out there. I think that no matter what they do, they'll never get more than 3.5% of the mobile phone market in the US; if they really push in other countries - especially countries like India and China - they will probably get a significantly higher slice of the pie outside of the US.

So, ultimately, you'll continue to see huge numbers of Windows desktops, you'll see more and more Windows tablets, but Windows phones will remain something of a rarity. At least, IMHO.

I always found it interesting when people talk about Windows and market share. Are not most of those computers counted banks, retail, and medical offices ? If so, why should those matter? Those users maybe are not as important to MS because they never update or anything.

Of course I'm not saying in the slightest that more people don't use PC's more than Macs for home use . Probably mainly due to price. But I question how important the bank, medical, and business users who didn't even upgrade from XP until they were forced to are to MS.

 

[vlad0]

Microsoft are going the "OS agnostic" route but that doesn't mean that they will stop supporting Windows.. Windows will be just another client for their cloud services.

Windows for desktop is turning into a great consumer OS...

Windows for mobile phones has some ways to go, but with the hardware getting better and better soon they will be the unlock the full potential of Windows NT on mobile.

Windows 10 should solidify the "One OS for all devices" strategy further and maybe one day I will be able to "dock" my phone and run win32 application on a big screen right from there. Windows NT can do it all.. it just needs enough resources

 

[HeyCori]

Outlook: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

 

[RaRa85]

The outlook remains skeptical at best until Microsoft can make their best devices available across multiple carriers in the US and elsewhere and developers really start giving us quality apps(like Vevo, 6tag, MyTube, and WPCentral app just to name a few that really stand out for me.) But apps like Facebook, Instagram, and the recently released "Flipboard"(just to name a few) are just lacking in quality and features when compared to rivaling OS's. If Microsoft can release a Lumia 1030 or even the 930(with SD card and quit excluding it from high end devices) across all three major US carriers and multiple countries with a truly bolstered app ecosystem, the sky is the limit for Windows Phone. Any deviation or regression while these two conditions are met would have to be blamed solely on people not giving Windows Phone a fair chance at all. With Windows 10 looming, it seems to me the groundwork is being laid for serious growth amongst the WP community in 2015. At least I hope so.

 

[P1ng0fDeath]

I'm optimistic. It hasn't been easy for MS, and I'm sure they knew it wouldn't, but if they keep pushing eventually WP will knock iOS down. It's already happening in some countries actually, much of it due to the success of the 520. It'll take time, but WP will be in a more comfortable position in a near future. But it is just my opinion :wink:

 

[theefman]

I personally enjoy using Windows as my desktop/tablet and phone OS. But when it comes to expansion to the wider population I honestly see things staying as they are for the forseealbe future. Windows 10 is going to be good - but that will be good for the desktop and wont influence tablet or phone sales. I dont see Windows tablets seeing any sizable uptick in adoption either because there isnt a reason to. Hybrids like the Pro 3 will grow in the enterprise but regular tablets will still suffer from the same weaknesses as today; lack of apps.

And the same goes for the phone. Whatever the next version of the OS brings, I just dont see any reason why people would move to it because the same weakness in apps applies to it too so it will just continue as is or until Microsoft decides to cancel it.

So overall I'm looking forward to Windows 10 on my SP3, desktop and phone but I dont see that making any significant difference to adoption by the general consumer who have by now been conditioned to only consider apple and google products for their mobile devices.

 

[RavenSword]

The thing is, even if I'm interested in getting a Windows phone, I'm just not sure there's good options available to me. The good ones seem to be only hitting with countries outside the US or only on Verizon like the icon and one M8. Att the only good option is the giant 6 inch phone, which I don't really want. My only other option is the 630, but that's too low specced I think. I might pick one up for a media player and way to dabble in WP, but it's not something I can make a daily driver.

 

[Ebaneeezor]

if they get win10 right, and business adopt the surface pro3 - there will be plenty of windows love again - they just have to get this os right - its a trickle effect - from pc, tablet to phone - If you like your pc, you want a consumption device to work seamlessly with it, and toss in a communication device ->phone as well and you got it all might be in 2016 when we see the net effect, but win 10 is already getting a lot of momentum in my work environment - lots of techis are really excited - outlook is very very good. Im seeing surface pro 3's all over here at work and windows phones are blooming right along with them as it should be in a trickle effect.

 

[rodan01]

The question is too big for such a small decision. It's just a phone, not a house or a big investment.

 

[fatclue_98]

Before Microsoft can set its sights on what's in the windshield, they better pay attention to the rearview mirror. BlackBerry remained stagnant in growth which is a real achievement. A large French company that sells frozen foods in Europe (Picard) has announced going with BB10 and BES. Although it was a limited amount by Android or Apple standards, the Passport sold out in 2 days and 10.3 has received positive feedback.

Unless Boo-Keun Yoon or Tim Cook get caught in a kiddie porn scandal or something similar, Microsoft won't be climbing the consumer charts anytime soon. But they better get their act together in the enterprise field quick. WP is the only real challenger to BB in this area because of security, or "perceived" security. BB still commands a 60% share in the enterprise world so it's safe - for now.

 

[mpl175]

I'm relatively new to WP and I love it,but I am very concerned for their future in the u.s. Microsoft is going to have to do a lot of hard work to close the gap. I do think windows 10 is a step in the right direction. They still have a huge hill to climb. At best I'm cautiously optimistic. I do think they will outsell android in the tablet market eventually but the phones are going to be tricky. We will have to wait and see. I still say if they came out with the first phone that's 64bit with 4g of ram they would make the tech community take notice. Just a thought.

 

[Ebaneeezor]

Before Microsoft can set its sights on what's in the windshield, they better pay attention to the rearview mirror. BlackBerry remained stagnant in growth which is a real achievement. A large French company that sells frozen foods in Europe (Picard) has announced going with BB10 and BES. Although it was a limited amount by Android or Apple standards, the Passport sold out in 2 days and 10.3 has received positive feedback.

Unless Boo-Keun Yoon or Tim Cook get caught in a kiddie porn scandal or something similar, Microsoft won't be climbing the consumer charts anytime soon. But they better get their act together in the enterprise field quick. WP is the only real challenger to BB in this area because of security, or "perceived" security. BB still commands a 60% share in the enterprise world so it's safe - for now.

Meanwhile most government agencies are dropping bb like its Ebola - we cut about 600 devices this year alone - WP incoming

 

[RavenSword]

Well, right now I have a HTC one M8 android version. If I wanted to try out Windows phone, would the 635 be my best option probably? Do most apps run on its 512mbs of ram?

 

[iamtim]

I have a HTC one M8 android version

It's a shame you can't flash back and forth between Android and Windows Phone on that handset.

 

[fatclue_98]

Meanwhile most government agencies are dropping bb like its Ebola - we cut about 600 devices this year alone - WP incoming

Which government? There's probably 600 TSA employees at Miami International alone. 600 devices? That's just a drop in the ocean as far as the Federal government.