Re: WC 150K Post Challenge - You Ready?!
Lumia was not dead the minute MS brought Nokia's device division. Had they left Lumia with Nokia, we would have seen what likely happens now...an Android OEM splitting time/attention between two OS. Where Microsoft went wrong was simply by taking forever to do anything with the division and when they did it was half-hearted.
As an OEM, I would be wise to do what I needed to do for my business...However, I'd also realize that I am struggling with Android. Given attention and time and marketing to my phones I've created for another OS may help diversify my portfolio. Putting all their eggs in one basket with no plan B, is precisely why HTC is in the state it is in. It had a lead in Windows mobile, Windows Phone 7 and early WP 8...it quickly was overshadowed by Nokia. On the Android side of things, HTC basically pulled a Microsoft and rested on their laurels and were quickly replaced by Samsung, LG and Motorola.
It's why Samsung tried to go with their OWN os because they realize while Android may be profitable they also are being controlled by google. Why do you think Cyanogen is trying to take Android away from Google. These OEMs need a Plan B, especially when they cant compete against Samsung as it is.
A smart OEM would realize that all eggs in one basket can spell trouble when you don't have a fallback plan to fall on.
The nokia Model is precisely what the Android model is. flooding the market with a ton of hardware which causes the marketshare to skyrocket and more devices sold. It's precisely how android got popular. It's also why Windows Phone's highest marketshare and devices sold happened because there were more options for people to choose. We are down to four models and they are scattered around and far less embraced than before by carriers/retailers thus marketshare has fallen.
Was it sustainable? No. But the key difference is, it did at least give the product some momentum vs what Microsoft has done since buying Nokia. Marketshare would not have dropped as bad as it had, had there been something released between the Icon/930 and the 950s....a simple refresh of the 930/1520 could have helped. Pushing the 640 even harder...Pricing the 830 better out the gate.
Instead little choice between then caused the marketshare to drop...and if it is true we don't get anything except a 650 this year, marketshare will drop because there is nothing for anyone to buy as many people are not going to want to buy last year's flagship.
OEMs don't care because Marketshare is so low? I got that.
But releasing a phone and abandoning your customers is exactly THEIR FAULT. That has nothing to do with a Nokia deal/MS deal. It has nothing to do with Lumias being the dominant force. It has to do with the fact these OEMs abandon their user and that is why users are sticking with/too Lumia.
The only phone I have moderately heard any excitement over is the HP phone. Even the Jade Primo was hot for all of a day and it became irrelevant. Most people will likely continue buying Lumias until OEMs manage to gain their trust...and someone is going to have to take the risk first.
As far as OEM customization, the
Smartest thing Microsoft ever did was to disallow that from happening. I would rather they had more control over the hardware still as I hate the fact we get these regurgitated Android redesigns but THANK GOD they do not allow OEMs to customize anything on the OS software.
We do not need a bunch of launchers and home screens like android. Especially since many OEMs are moving away from heavy UI.
What Microsoft is encouraging and I support is allowing them to differentiate on hardware.
The day Microsoft allows OEMs to customize the platform, might be the day I strongly consider an iPhone.
Microsoft needs to stop trying to chase the Android methodology and take after apple...Android on its own sucks outside of Galaxy and the only reason Galaxy is popular is not because of Android, is because Samsung literally copies whatever apple does.
The day Microsoft finds its inner apple is the day Windows 10 mobile truly will actually have true success, I do believe.
The main reason why OEMs don't care is because the market share is so low. Why support something that has virtually no users?
The other aspect is the personal touch that OEMs like to put on phones. You can't really do that with W10M and it takes away the 'personal' touch that OEMs want.
As for what will come out in 2017 we simply don't know. Sure they're talking three flavours but we have no idea of pricing. The categories don't really help either. What is the pricing of a 'consumer' phone?
Lastly, it was the Nokia/MS deal that did turn off a lot of OEMs. Everyone associated Lumia and WP. MS gave money to Nokia to push WP. So take it from there. How would you feel as another OEM which is what Nokia was supposed to be. It was obvious for anyone to see that Nokia was seen as WP. If I was an OEM I'd feel the same way.
Nokia also flooded the market with all kinds of variants which didn't help. The Nokia mode was never a good one and the reason why they're no longer making phones. They'd be smart not to replicate it. It's not profitable.
Also having MS manufacture high, mid and low end phones takes away a lot of space for an OEM especially when customers are big on having the 'real' W10M.
Lumia was dead the minute MS bought Nokia. Anyone who thinks differently hasn't got a clue about business.
Also from a business perspective, being an OEM why wouldn't you be pro Android? You'd be crazy not to. MS would be smart to court OEMs but they need to get them on board in the right way. Right now, they're not succeeding at that. Or at much when it comes to the mobile space.